New drug Xeljanz approved for treatment of psoriatic arthritis in EU

Twice-daily 5mg doses of tofacitinib citrate (Xeljanz) in combination with methotrexate, has been approved by the European Commission for adult patients with psoriatic arthritis who have had an inadequate response or who are intolerant to a prior disease-modifying antirheumatic drug.

Xeljanz is a JAK inhibitor that is already available for adults with moderate-to-severe rheumatoid arthritis who have had an inadequate response to DMARDs.

“Psoriatic arthritis, a chronic inflammatory condition which affects between 1.5 and 3 million people in Europe, causes joint pain and swelling that can eventually lead to permanent joint damage if not diagnosed and treated sufficiently early on,” explains Dr Frank Behrens in a press release. “This approval for Xeljanz is an important milestone for the psoriatic arthritis community, who are in need of an additional oral treatment option to help manage their condition.”

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