1 March 2019 No. 3944 Scripscrip.pharmaintelligence.informa.com Pharma intelligence | informa to evaluate cardiovascular safety for both doses against an active comparator, as opposed to relying on post-marketing event reporting. On Feb. 19, Pfizer reported some results from this trial – A3921133 — and the news was alarming. Unlike prior studies, this tri- al enrolled patients who were age 50 and up and had at least one cardiovascular risk factor, the company noted. The study test- ed Xeljanz on top of background metho- trexate and included an arm with patients on a tumor necrosis factor inhibitor (TNFi). Results were monitored by an external Rheumatology Drug Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB) “Based on the most recent analysis of the ongoing A3921133 study, the DSMB observed that patients treated with to- facitinib 10 mg twice daily had a statisti- cally and clinically important difference Shadows Cast Over JAK Class in the occurrence of pulmonary em- bolism, compared with patients in this Following Xeljanz Mortality Signal study who were treated with a TNFi. The DSMB also noted an increase in overall EMILY HAYES
[email protected] mortality in the 10 mg twice daily treat- ment group compared to the tofacitinib he cardiovascular risks seen with a in 2016. (Also see “PIPELINE WATCH – 10 5 mg twice daily and TNFi treatment higher-than-approved dose of Pfiz- Approvals, Two Breakthroughs And A Re- arms,” Pfizer said. T er Inc.’s Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor fusal To File Letter” - Scrip, 1 Mar, 2016.) The This safety signal has not been picked Xeljanz in a long-term rheumatoid arthri- drug’s initial clearance came with a lot of up in adverse event reporting systems, tis study required by the US FDA have cast safety baggage.