The IL-12/23 inhibitor is administered subcutaneously once every 12 weeks in children and adolescents aged 6–17 years, following loading doses at weeks 0 and 4, with dosing based on bodyweight.

Development of ustekinumab as a potential therapeutic option for systemic lupus erythematosus has been terminated following an interim analysis of the phase 3 LOTUS trial, which demonstrated no benefit of the IL-12/23 inhibitor in this patient population.

He explained that TYK2 is involved in signaling via the type 1 interferon and interleukin (IL)-12/23 pathways, which represent “an attractive pair of therapeutic targets for lupus,” but deucravacitinib “does not inhibit cytokines involved in metabolic or hematopoietic pathways.”

Measuring IL-22 levels may help predict whether IL-17 inhibitors or TNF inhibitors are more suitable for patients with psoriatic arthritis, Japanese research suggests.

A monthly selection of topical peer-reviewed articles from the Adis journals, curated by the editors.

The investigators explain that “Janus kinase (JAK) plays a key role in many signal pathways of cytokines involving the pathogenesis of SS, including type I interferon (IFN) pathway, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-17, IL-12 and IL-23,” leading them to hypothesize that baricitinib may be a promising treatment option.

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Previously approved for plaque psoriasis, the interleukin-23 inhibitor may now be given to adult patients with active PsA at a dose of 150 mg every 12 weeks, following loading doses at weeks 0 and 4, and is administered by subcutaneous injection.

In the last 20 years, the therapeutic options for PsA have increased exponentially with the availability of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF) inhibitors, interleukin (IL)-17 inhibitors, IL-12/23 inhibitors and Janus kinases/signal transducer and activator of transcription proteins (JAK/STAT) inhibitors.

People initiating the IL-12/23 inhibitor ustekinumab for active psoriatic arthritis achieve similar outcomes irrespective of whether the drug is given with or without methotrexate, show data presented at the ACR Convergence 2021 virtual meeting.

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Experts discuss the increasing use of telemedicine in rheumatology during the COVID-19 pandemic.

They say the risk with biologic treatment targeting other pathways, such as interleukin (IL)-12/23 or IL-17, may be lower, but data are limited.

Dafna Gladman speaks to medwireNews about the trial data supporting the use of Janus kinase inhibitors in patients with psoriatic arthritis, and discusses the impact these agents may have.

“These recommendations have been modified substantially compared with the 2015 update,” say Laure Gossec (Sorbonne Universite, Paris, France) and co-authors, noting that “new information has accumulated on the efficacy and safety of established drugs and treatment strategies, but also on newer agents” including interleukin (IL)-17 inhibitors, IL-12/23 inhibitors, and Janus kinase inhibitors.

The researchers explain that ustekinumab was given as a single weight-guided dose administered by intravenous infusion, followed by subcutaneous injections of the interleukin (IL)-12/23 inhibitor at a dose of 90 mg every 8 weeks.