Tofacitinib plus DMARDs may improve rheumatoid arthritis symptoms

Symptoms may be improved in people with active rheumatoid arthritis if tofacitinib is used in combination with disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs), says a study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

Nonbiologic DMARDs (including methotrexate) are often used to treat rheumatoid arthritis but they do not always adequately improve symptoms.

A study of 792 people with active rheumatoid arthritis despite taking nonbiologic DMARDs were split into different daily treatment groups. The group whose symptoms improved the most was given nonbiologic DMARDs and 5mg or 10mg of tofacitinib twice a day.

It should be noted, however, that Pfizer – the company behind tofacitinib – funded the study.