Editor’s Pick: JAK Inhibitors in the Treatment Algorithm of Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Review

Abstract

Biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs have defined a new era in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) management but share the limitation of antagonising single inflammatory cytokines or cells, as well as being either intravenously or subcutaneously administered. Following advances in the understanding of signalling pathways, the introduction of orally administered small molecules targeting key downstream intracellular factors constitutes a major breakthrough since the advent of biologics. JAK inhibition is a novel approach for treating RA and a series of agents directed against JAK have been developed for clinical use, paving the way for an innovative approach to treatment and the addition of a new class of targeted synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs to the available therapeutic armamentarium. Clinicians must now consider the place of these drugs in disease management. This review summarises the impact of JAK inhibitors and their role in the treatment algorithm of RA