Therapeutic focus - Pfizer data highlights potential of JAKs in arthritis

Just like the oral revolution heading towards the multiple sclerosis market, data from Pfizer yesterday on tasocitinib suggests a similar transformation is possible in rheumatoid arthritis.

Encouraging pivotal data revealed at the ACR rheumatology conference confirms the pill, a JAK-3 inhibitor, is looking as effective and safe as the widely used injectable therapies available such as Humira, Enbrel and Remicade. These three products are expected to generate sales of $13bn in RA this year (see table below); although tasocitinib still has much to prove the potential is clear. As the analysis below shows the Pfizer product is by far the most advanced drug of its class, although several other JAK inhibitors are coming through, most notably a mid-stage candidate from Eli Lilly which also reported promising data at ACR.