Oral deucravacitinib shows promise in patients with active lupus

Oral deucravacitinib shows promise in patients with active lupus

Tyrosine kinases are enzymes that play a central role in cytokine signaling involved in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases, including lupus. A recent phase 2 clinical trial published by Wiley in Arthritis & Rheumatology has shown promising results for deucravacitinib, an oral tyrosine kinase 2 (TYK2) inhibitor, in patients with active lupus.

The study randomized 363 patients in a 1:1:1:1 ratio to placebo or deucravacitinib 3 mg twice daily, 6 mg twice daily, or 12 mg once daily. At week 32, the percentage of patients demonstrating a positive response (as assessed by various measures of disease activity) was 34% on placebo compared to 58%, 50% and 45% on the respective deucravacitinib regimens.

Rates of adverse reactions were similar in all groups, except for higher rates of infections and skin-related events, including rash and acne, with deucravacitinib. Rates of serious adverse events were comparable, with no deaths, opportunistic infections, tuberculosis, serious adverse cardiovascular events, or thrombotic events reported.

The TYK2 transducer signals a unique set of cytokines that are highly relevant to SLE. These results put TYK2 on the map as a target for lupus and encourage further development of deucravacitinib in this disease.”

Eric Morand, MBBS, PhD, Ccorresponding author,Monash University

Source:

Wiley

Reference:

Morand, E., et al. (2022) Deucravacitinib, a tyrosine kinase 2 inhibitor, in systemic lupus erythematosus: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase II trial. Arthritis & Rheumatology. doi.org/10.1002/art.42391.

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