Safety of Biologic and Targeted Synthetic Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs in Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Longitudinal Analysis - Report - MDSpire

Safety of Biologic and Targeted Synthetic Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs in Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Longitudinal Analysis

  • By

  • Kuan Peng

  • Vincent K. C. Yan

  • Shirley C. W. Chan

  • Ju-Young Shin

  • Edward Chia‑Cheng Lai

  • Nicole L. Pratt

  • Esther W. Y. Chan

  • Chak-sing Lau

  • Xue Li

  • June 26, 2026

  • 0 min

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Long-Term Safety Assessment of Biologic and Targeted Synthetic DMARDs

Overview

This longitudinal study evaluates the long-term safety of biologic and targeted synthetic DMARDs in rheumatoid arthritis, noting that tocilizumab was associated with higher hospitalization rates compared to etanercept, while tofacitinib showed an increased risk of gastritis.

Background

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease that can lead to significant functional disabilities. Biologic and targeted synthetic DMARDs are essential for managing RA, especially after standard therapies fail. Understanding the safety profiles of these treatments is crucial for clinicians.

Data Highlights

No specific numerical data or trial data provided in the source.

Key Findings

  • Tocilizumab is linked to a higher rate of hospitalization compared to etanercept.
  • Tofacitinib is associated with an elevated risk of gastritis.
  • Advanced statistical methods were employed to account for biases in observational data.
  • The study utilized a large electronic medical records database for safety comparisons.

Clinical Implications

The findings highlight the need for robust safety data to guide treatment strategies.

Conclusion

The study highlights the importance of advanced methodologies in evaluating long-term treatment outcomes.

Related Resources & Content

  1. Clinical Rheumatology, 2019 -- Long-term Impact of Biologic Therapies on Patient Outcomes in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Insights from a Disease Registry
  2. Clinical Rheumatology, 2025 -- Evaluating the Role of Early Therapeutic Drug Monitoring of Adalimumab in Predicting Treatment Outcomes and Immunogenicity in Rheumatic Disorders
  3. Clinical Rheumatology, 2021 -- Factors Influencing Treatment Switches in Psoriatic Arthritis Patients Receiving Anti-TNFα, Anti-IL12/23, or Anti-IL17 Therapies: Findings from a 15-Year Monocentric Study
  4. Drugs - Real World Outcomes -- Long-term Adherence to Biological Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Medications and Its Impact on Healthcare Resources and Expenses
  5. EULAR 2025 Update -- Current guideline positioning
  6. Rheumatoid Arthritis Clinical Practice Guidelines | American College of Rheumatology
  7. Safety of synthetic and biological DMARDs: a systematic literature review informing the 2025 update of the EULAR recommendations for the management of rheumatoid arthritis
  8. Comparative Safety of Biologic and Targeted‐Synthetic DMARDs in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Multi‐Database Real‐World Cohort Study
  9. https://www.eular.org/document/download/1406/ec021a77-cdf3-4de3-ae72-57c1757db549/1325
  10. Serious Infection Risk With TNF Inhibitors vs. JAK Inhibitors in Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Nationwide Claims-Based Cohort Study - PubMed
  11. Cardiovascular and Cancer Risk with Tofacitinib in Rheumatoid Arthritis | New England Journal of Medicine
  12. Cardiovascular and Cancer Risk with Tofacitinib in Rheumatoid Arthritis | New England Journal of Medicine
  13. Janus Kinase (JAK) inhibitors: Drug Safety Communication - FDA Requires Warnings about Increased Risk of Serious Heart-related Events, Cancer, Blood Clots, and Death | FDA

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