Rinvoq is granted reimb for ankylosing spondylitis

Expanding the treatment scope of JAK inhibitors

AbbVie holds press conference in celebration of Rinvoq’s reimbursement approval in ankylosing spondylitis

Rinvoq is reimbursed for the treatment of adults with severe active ankylosing spondylitis on the 1

Unmet needs remain in ankylosing spondylitis…’ Rinvoq will be highly utilized in the field”

AbbVie Korea holds press conference in celebration of Rinvoq’s reimbursement approval in ankylosing spondylitis on the 13th

The use of JAK inhibitors, which had been used for rheumatoid arthritis and atopic dermatitis, has been expanded to ankylosing spondylitis.

 

On the 13th, AbbVie Korea held a press conference at Andaz Seoul Gangnam in Gangnam-gu, Seoul to celebrate the reimbursement of its Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor, Rinvoq (upadacitinib) for severe active ankylosing spondylitis.

 

Rinvoq was granted reimbursement for the treatment of adults with severe active ankylosing spondylitis on the 1st.

 

Rinvoq is reimbursed for use in patients with severe active ankylosing spondylitis who have had an inadequate response to or had to discontinue treatment with tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) blockers or interleukin (IL)-17 inhibitors.

 

With the reimbursement extension, Rinvoq can now be used to treat patients with ankylosing spondylitis in addition to other inflammatory diseases such as atopic dermatitis, rheumatoid arthritis, and ulcerative colitis.

 

Its efficacy and safety were confirmed in adult patients with active ankylosing spondylitis through the SELECT-AXIS 1 Phase II/III study and the SELECT-AXIS 2 Phase III study.

 

In the SELECT-AXIS 1 study, which included patients naïve to biologic disease-modifying drugs, the Rinvoq arm achieved a 52% response rate at Week 14 in terms of ASAS40 (defined as a ≥40% improvement in response per Assessment of SpondyloArthritis International Society standards), which was higher than the placebo arm.

 

In the SELECT-AXIS2 study, which observed patients who had failed biologic therapy, the ASAS40 response in the Rinvoq arm was 45% at week 14, demonstrating an efficacy compared to the 18% in the placebo arm.

 

The mean reduction in pain was -3.00 in the Rinvoq arm and -1.47 in the placebo arm.

 

Unmet needs remain in ankylosing spondylitis…Rinvoq and other JAK inhibitors emerge as alternatives #I2Ankylosing spondylitis is an autoimmune disease in which the spine joint becomes inflamed and gradually stiffens.

 

Inflammation of the spinal joints causes pain, stiffness, and other symptoms.

 

If left untreated, the joints can become stiff and become immobile.

 

The number of affected patients has been increasing steadily every year.

 

According to the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service’s Healthcare Big Data, the number of patients with ankylosing spondylitis in Korea was 52,616 in 2022, showing a steady increase over the past 5 years.

 

Results of a treatment satisfaction survey conducted on patients with ankylosing spondylitis showed that about half of patients are dissatisfied with their current treatment.

 

Despite significant improvements in clinical outcomes, unmet needs remain in achieving remission, pain control, fatigue, and psychological issues (anxiety, depression).

 

Therefore, it is analyzed that the reimbursement of JAK inhibitors, such as Xeljanz (tofacitinib) and Rinvoq, will be able to improve patient outcomes.

 

Seung-Jae Hong, Professor of Rheumatology at Kyung Hee University Hospital, said, "I believe that the introduction of oral agents such as Rinvoq for the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis will greatly benefit patients.

 

As Xeljanz is considered to be associated with a high risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) based on the clinical results, we believe Rinvoq would become a more popular reimbursed choice in the field."