Tofacitinib, an Oral Janus Kinase Inhibitor, in Active Ulcerative Colitis

Tofacitinib in Active Ulcerative Colitis Patients with ulcerative colitis were assigned to receive one of four doses of tofacitinib or placebo. The highest tofacitinib dose was associated with increased response and remission rates, but use of tofacitinib raised cholesterol levels and reduced neutrophil counts. Ulcerative colitis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the colon. 1 , 2 Patients have intermittent disease flares interspersed with periods of remission. 3 Ulcerative colitis is treated with mesalamine, glucocorticoids, azathioprine, and anti–tumor necrosis factor (TNF) agents (infliximab and adalimumab). 4 – 6 These agents are not universally effective, and some have been associated with serious toxic effects. 7 Additional treatments are needed. Tofacitinib (CP-690,550) is a selective oral inhibitor of the Janus kinase (JAK) family of kinases, including JAK1 and JAK3, a tyrosine kinase that mediates signal-transduction activity involving the common gamma chain of the surface receptors for multiple cytokines, including interleukins 2, 4, . . .