Upadacitinib and Pain in RA, PsA - Summary - MDSpire

Upadacitinib and Pain in RA, PsA

Mediation analysis suggests direct and indirect effects on pain reduction in rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis.

  • By

  • Kathryn Wighton

  • February 25, 2026

  • 4 min

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Objective:

To evaluate the effectiveness of upadacitinib in reducing pain in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) compared to adalimumab and placebo.

Key Findings:
  • In RA, upadacitinib showed greater pain reduction than adalimumab and placebo, especially in patients with inflammation.
  • In PsA, pain improvements with upadacitinib were similar to adalimumab in patients with inflammation attenuation.
  • Upadacitinib led to higher rates of inflammation attenuation compared to adalimumab and placebo.
Interpretation:

Pain reduction occurred with and without inflammation control, indicating that upadacitinib's direct effects on pain are significant, especially in RA.

Limitations:
  • Post hoc design of the study.
  • Different trial designs for RA and PsA.
  • Lack of early data in PsA.
Conclusion:

Upadacitinib is effective in reducing pain in RA and PsA, with notable direct effects independent of inflammation resolution.

Original Source(s)

Upadacitinib and Pain in RA, PsA

  • by Kathryn Wighton

  • February 25, 2026

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