Tofacitinib Citrate, an FDA approved Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor recently obtains marketing approval from the European Commission (EC) to treat psoriatic arthritis (PsA) among patients who show poor reactions towards DMARD treatment. Before this event, Tofacitinib Citrate along with MTX got approval in EU for treating rheumatoid arthritis. Tofacitinib Citrate is licensed in about 80 countries for managing psoriatic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and ulcerative colitis. In Europe, Tofacitinib Citrate approval is a breakthrough event as PsA affects between 1.5, and 3 million people yearly in this continent.

The data represented for Tofacitinib Citrate authorization in EU was extracted from the Phase 3 Oral Psoriatic Arthritis TriaLs (OPAL) and ongoing long-term extension trial (OPAL Balance). The OPAL involved two pivotal studies; OPAL Beyond and OPAL Broaden.

The latest findings suggest that 5 mg Tofacitinib Citrate along with MTX twice every day is an encouraging treatment option for patients with psoriatic arthritis in Europe.