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Clinical Trials Experience: Because clinical studies are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical studies of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical studies of another drug and may not predict the rates observed in a broader patient population in clinical practice.
Rheumatoid Arthritis: The clinical studies described in the following sections were conducted using XELJANZ. Although other doses of XELJANZ have been studied, the recommended dose of XELJANZ is 5 mg twice daily.
The following data includes two Phase 2 and five Phase 3 double-blind, controlled, multicenter trials. In these trials, patients were randomized to doses of XELJANZ 5 mg twice daily (292 patients) and 10 mg twice daily (306 patients) monotherapy, XELJANZ 5 mg twice daily (1044 patients) and 10 mg twice daily (1043 patients) in combination with DMARDs (including methotrexate) and placebo (809 patients). All seven protocols included provisions for patients taking placebo to receive treatment with XELJANZ at Month 3 or Month 6 either by patient response (based on uncontrolled disease activity) or by design, so that adverse events cannot always be unambiguously attributed to a given treatment. Therefore, some analyses that follow include patients who changed treatment by design or by patient response from placebo to XELJANZ in both the placebo and XELJANZ group of a given interval. Comparisons between placebo and XELJANZ were based on the first 3 months of exposure, and comparisons between XELJANZ 5 mg twice daily and XELJANZ 10 mg twice daily were based on the first 12 months of exposure.
The long-term safety population includes all patients who participated in a double-blind, controlled trial (including earlier development phase studies) and then participated in one of two long-term safety studies. The design of the long-term safety studies allowed for modification of XELJANZ doses according to clinical judgment. This limits the interpretation of the long-term safety data with respect to dose.
The most common serious adverse reactions were serious infections (see Precautions).
The proportion of patients who discontinued treatment due to any adverse reaction during the 0 to 3 months exposure in the double-blind, placebo-controlled trials was 4% for patients taking XELJANZ and 3% for placebo-treated patients.
Safety information from ad hoc interim analyses is also included for one large (N=4362), ongoing randomized post authorization safety surveillance (PASS) study in RA patients who were 50 years or older with at least one cardiovascular risk factor (CV risk factors defined as: current cigarette smoker, diagnosis of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, family history of premature coronary heart disease, history of coronary artery disease including a history of revascularization procedure, coronary artery bypass grafting, myocardial infarction, cardiac arrest, unstable angina, acute coronary syndrome, and presence of extra articular disease associated with RA, e.g. nodules, Sjögren's syndrome, anemia of chronic disease, pulmonary manifestations), and were on a stable background dose of methotrexate.
Patients were randomized to open-label tofacitinib 10 mg twice daily, tofacitinib 5 mg twice daily, or a TNF inhibitor (TNF inhibitor was either etanercept 50 mg once weekly or adalimumab 40 mg every other week) in a 1:1:1 ratio. The co-primary endpoints are adjudicated malignancy (excluding NMSC) and adjudicated major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE); cumulative incidence and statistical assessment of endpoints are blinded. The study is an event-powered study that also requires at least 1500 patients to be followed for 3 years. The study treatment of tofacitinib 10 mg twice daily has been stopped and the patients were switched to 5 mg twice daily because of a dose dependent signal of PE.
Overall Infections: In the seven controlled trials, during the 0 to 3 months exposure, the overall frequency of infections was 20% and 22% in the 5 mg twice daily and 10 mg twice daily groups, respectively, and 18% in the placebo group.
The most commonly reported infections with XELJANZ were upper respiratory tract infections, nasopharyngitis, and urinary tract infections (4%, 3%, and 2% of patients, respectively).
Ulcerative Colitis: In the randomized 8 week Phase 2/3 induction studies, the proportions of patients with infections were 21.1% for XELJANZ 10 mg twice daily compared with 15.2% for placebo. In the randomized 52-week Phase 3 maintenance study, the proportion of patients with infections were 35.9% for XELJANZ 5 mg twice daily, 39.8% for XELJANZ 10 mg twice daily, and 24.2% for placebo. In the entire treatment experience with XELJANZ in the ulcerative colitis program, the overall incidence rate of infection was 65.7 events per 100 patient years (involving 47.9% of patients). The most common infection was nasopharyngitis, occurring in 16.8% of patients.
Serious Infections: In the seven controlled trials, during the 0 to 3 months exposure, serious infections were reported in 1 patient (0.5 events per 100 patient-years) who received placebo and 11 patients (1.7 events per 100 patient-years) who received XELJANZ 5 mg or 10 mg twice daily. The rate difference between treatment groups (and the corresponding 95% confidence interval) was 1.1 (-0.4, 2.5) events per 100 patient-years for the combined 5 mg twice daily and 10 mg twice daily XELJANZ group minus placebo.
In the seven controlled trials, during the 0 to 12 months exposure, serious infections were reported in 34 patients (2.7 events per 100 patient-years) who received 5 mg twice daily of XELJANZ and 33 patients (2.7 events per 100 patient-years) who received 10 mg twice daily of XELJANZ. The rate difference between XELJANZ doses (and the corresponding 95% confidence interval) was -0.1 (-1.3, 1.2) events per 100 patient-years for 10 mg twice daily XELJANZ minus 5 mg twice daily XELJANZ.
The most common serious infections included pneumonia, cellulitis, herpes zoster, and urinary tract infection (see Precautions).
Ulcerative Colitis: XELJANZ has been studied in patients with moderately to severely active UC in 4 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials (UC-I, UC-II, UC-III, and dose-ranging UC-V) and an open-label long-term extension study (UC-IV) (see Pharmacology: Pharmacodynamics: Clinical Studies under Actions).
Adverse reactions reported in ≥5% of patients treated with either 5 mg or 10 mg twice daily of XELJANZ and ≥1% greater than reported in patients receiving placebo in either the induction or maintenance clinical trials were: nasopharyngitis, elevated cholesterol levels, headache, upper respiratory tract infection, increased blood creatine phosphokinase, rash, diarrhea, and herpes zoster.
Induction Trials (Study UC-I, UC-II, and UC-V): Common adverse reactions reported in ≥2% of patients treated with XELJANZ 10 mg twice daily and ≥1% greater than that reported in patients receiving placebo in the 3 induction trials were: headache, nasopharyngitis, elevated cholesterol levels, acne, increased blood creatine phosphokinase, and pyrexia.
Maintenance Trial (Study UC-III): Common adverse reactions reported in ≥4% of patients treated with either dose of XELJANZ and ≥1% greater than reported in patients receiving placebo are shown in Table 15. (See Table 15.)
Click on icon to see table/diagram/imageDose-dependent adverse reactions seen in patients treated with XELJANZ 10 mg twice daily, in comparison to 5 mg twice daily, include the following: herpes zoster infections, serious infections, and NMSC (see Precautions).
During the UC controlled clinical studies (8-week induction and 52-week maintenance studies), which included 1220 patients, 0 cases of solid cancer or lymphoma were observed in XELJANZ-treated patients.
In the long-term extension study, malignancies (including solid cancers, lymphomas and NMSC) were observed in patients treated with XELJANZ 5 mg and 10 mg twice daily [see Precautions]. Five cases of pulmonary embolism were reported in patients taking XELJANZ 10 mg twice daily, including one fatality in a patient with advanced cancer (see Precautions).
Tuberculosis: In the seven controlled trials, during the 0 to 3 months exposure, tuberculosis was not reported in patients who received placebo, 5 mg twice daily of XELJANZ, or 10 mg twice daily of XELJANZ.
In the seven controlled trials, during the 0 to 12 months exposure, tuberculosis was reported in 0 patients who received 5 mg twice daily of XELJANZ and 6 patients (0.5 events per 100 patient-years) who received 10 mg twice daily of XELJANZ. The rate difference between XELJANZ doses (and the corresponding 95% confidence interval) was 0.5 (0.1, 0.9) events per 100 patient-years for 10 mg twice daily XELJANZ minus 5 mg twice daily XELJANZ.
Cases of disseminated tuberculosis were also reported. The median XELJANZ exposure prior to diagnosis of tuberculosis was 10 months (range from 152 to 960 days) (see Precautions).
Opportunistic Infections (excluding tuberculosis): In the seven controlled trials, during the 0 to 3 months exposure, opportunistic infections were not reported in patients who received placebo, 5 mg twice daily of XELJANZ, or 10 mg twice daily of XELJANZ.
In the seven controlled trials, during the 0 to 12 months exposure, opportunistic infections were reported in 4 patients (0.3 events per 100 patient-years) who received 5 mg twice daily of XELJANZ and 4 patients (0.3 events per 100 patient-years) who received 10 mg twice daily of XELJANZ. The rate difference between XELJANZ doses (and the corresponding 95% confidence interval) was 0 (-0.5, 0.5) events per 100 patient-years for 10 mg twice daily XELJANZ minus 5 mg twice daily XELJANZ.
The median XELJANZ exposure prior to diagnosis of an opportunistic infection was 8 months (range from 41 to 698 days) (see Precautions).
Malignancy: In the seven controlled trials, during the 0 to 3 months exposure, malignancies excluding NMSC were reported in 0 patients who received placebo and 2 patients (0.3 events per 100 patient-years) who received either XELJANZ 5 mg or 10 mg twice daily. The rate difference between treatment groups (and the corresponding 95% confidence interval) was 0.3 (-0.1, 0.7) events per 100 patient-years for the combined 5 mg and 10 mg twice daily XELJANZ group minus placebo.
In the seven controlled trials, during the 0 to 12 months exposure, malignancies excluding NMSC were reported in 5 patients (0.4 events per 100 patient-years) who received 5 mg twice daily of XELJANZ and 7 patients (0.6 events per 100 patient-years) who received 10 mg twice daily of XELJANZ. The rate difference between XELJANZ doses (and the corresponding 95% confidence interval) was 0.2 (-0.4, 0.7) events per 100 patient-years for 10 mg twice daily XELJANZ minus 5 mg twice daily XELJANZ. One of these malignancies was a case of lymphoma that occurred during the 0 to 12 month period in a patient treated with XELJANZ 10 mg twice daily.
The most common types of malignancy, including malignancies observed during the long-term extension, were lung and breast cancer, followed by gastric, colorectal, renal cell, prostate cancer, lymphoma, and malignant melanoma (see Precautions).
Laboratory Abnormalities: Lymphopenia: In the controlled clinical trials, confirmed decreases in absolute lymphocyte counts below 500 cells/mm3 occurred in 0.04% of patients for the 5 mg twice daily and 10 mg twice daily XELJANZ groups combined during the first 3 months of exposure.
Confirmed lymphocyte counts less than 500 cells/mm3 were associated with an increased incidence of treated and serious infections (see Precautions).
Neutropenia: In the controlled clinical trials, confirmed decreases in ANC below 1000 cells/mm3 occurred in 0.07% of patients for the 5 mg twice daily and 10 mg twice daily XELJANZ groups combined during the first 3 months of exposure.
There were no confirmed decreases in ANC below 500 cells/mm3 observed in any treatment group.
There was no clear relationship between neutropenia and the occurrence of serious infections.
In the long-term safety population, the pattern and incidence of confirmed decreases in ANC remained consistent with what was seen in the controlled clinical trials (see Precautions).
Liver Enzyme Elevations: Confirmed increases in liver enzymes greater than 3 times the upper limit of normal (3x ULN) were observed in patients treated with XELJANZ. In patients experiencing liver enzyme elevation, modification of treatment regimen, such as reduction in the dose of concomitant DMARD, interruption of XELJANZ, or reduction in XELJANZ dose, resulted in decrease or normalization of liver enzymes.
In the controlled monotherapy trials (0-3 months), no differences in the incidence of ALT or AST elevations were observed between the placebo, and XELJANZ 5 mg and 10 mg twice daily groups.
In the controlled background DMARD trials (0-3 months), ALT elevations greater than 3x ULN were observed in 1.0%, 1.3% and 1.2% of patients receiving placebo, 5 mg, and 10 mg twice daily, respectively. In these trials, AST elevations greater than 3x ULN were observed in 0.6%, 0.5% and 0.4% of patients receiving placebo, 5 mg, and 10 mg twice daily, respectively.
One case of drug-induced liver injury was reported in a patient treated with XELJANZ 10 mg twice daily for approximately 2.5 months. The patient developed symptomatic elevations of AST and ALT greater than 3x ULN and bilirubin elevations greater than 2x ULN, which required hospitalizations and a liver biopsy.
In the clinical trials in psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, ulcerative colitis, and polyarticular course juvenile idiopathic arthritis, changes in liver enzyme tests observed with XELJANZ treatment were similar to the changes observed in clinical trials in rheumatoid arthritis where patients received background DMARDs.
Lipid Elevations: In the controlled clinical trials, dose-related elevations in lipid parameters (total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, triglycerides) were observed at one month of exposure and remained stable thereafter. Changes in lipid parameters during the first 3 months of exposure in the controlled clinical trials are summarized as follows: Mean LDL cholesterol increased by 15% in the XELJANZ 5 mg twice daily arm and 19% in the XELJANZ 10 mg twice daily arm.
Mean HDL cholesterol increased by 10% in the XELJANZ 5 mg twice daily arm and 12% in the XELJANZ 10 mg twice daily arm.
Mean LDL/HDL ratios were essentially unchanged in XELJANZ-treated patients.
In a controlled clinical trial, elevations in LDL cholesterol and ApoB decreased to pretreatment levels in response to statin therapy.
In the long-term safety population, elevations in lipid parameters remained consistent with what was seen in the controlled clinical trials.
Serum Creatinine Elevations: In the controlled clinical trials, dose-related elevations in serum creatinine were observed with XELJANZ treatment. The mean increase in serum creatinine was <0.1 mg/dL in the 12-month pooled safety analysis; however with increasing duration of exposure in the long-term extensions, up to 2% of patients were discontinued from XELJANZ treatment due to the protocol-specified discontinuation criterion of an increase in creatinine by more than 50% of baseline. The clinical significance of the observed serum creatinine elevations is unknown.
Other Adverse Reactions: Adverse reactions occurring in 2% or more of patients on 5 mg twice daily or 10 mg twice daily XELJANZ and at least 1% greater than that observed in patients on placebo with or without DMARD are summarized in Table 16. (See Table 16.)
Click on icon to see table/diagram/imageOther adverse reactions occurring in controlled and open-label extension studies included: Blood and lymphatic system disorders: Anemia.
Infections and infestations: Diverticulitis.
Metabolism and nutrition disorders: Dehydration.
Psychiatric disorders: Insomnia.
Nervous system disorders: Paresthesia.
Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders: Dyspnea, cough, sinus congestion, interstitial lung disease (cases were limited to patients with rheumatoid arthritis and some were fatal).
Gastrointestinal disorders: Abdominal pain, dyspepsia, vomiting, gastritis, nausea.
Hepatobiliary disorders: Hepatic steatosis.
Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders: Rash, erythema, pruritus.
Musculoskeletal, connective tissue and bone disorders: Musculoskeletal pain, arthralgia, tendonitis, joint swelling.
Neoplasms benign, malignant and unspecified (including cysts and polyps): Non-melanoma skin cancers.
General disorders and administration site conditions: Pyrexia, fatigue, peripheral edema.
Psoriatic Arthritis: XELJANZ 5 mg twice daily and 10 mg twice daily were studied in 2 double blind Phase 3 clinical trials in patients with active psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Although other doses of XELJANZ have been studied, the recommended dose of XELJANZ is 5 mg twice daily. A dosage of XELJANZ 10 mg twice daily is not recommended for the treatment of PsA (see Dosage & Administration).
Study PsA-I (NCT01877668) had a duration of 12 months and enrolled patients who had an inadequate response to a nonbiologic DMARD and who were naïve to treatment with a TNF blocker. Study PsA-I included a 3-month placebo-controlled period and also included adalimumab 40 mg subcutaneously once every 2 weeks for 12 months.
Study PsA-II (NCT01882439) had a duration of 6 months and enrolled patients who had an inadequate response to at least one approved TNF blocker. This clinical trial included a 3-month placebo controlled period.
In these combined Phase 3 clinical trials, 238 patients were randomized and treated with XELJANZ 5 mg twice daily and 236 patients were randomized and treated with XELJANZ 10 mg twice daily. All patients in the clinical trials were required to receive treatment with a stable dose of a nonbiologic DMARD [the majority (79%) received methotrexate]. The study population randomized and treated with XELJANZ (474 patients) included 45 (9.5%) patients aged 65 years or older and 66 (13.9%) patients with diabetes at baseline.
The safety profile observed in patients with active psoriatic arthritis treated with XELJANZ was consistent with the safety profile observed in rheumatoid arthritis patients.
Ulcerative Colitis: The following safety data were based on 4 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies: 2 Phase 3 induction studies of identical design (UC I and UC II), a Phase 3 maintenance study (UC III), and 1 dose-ranging Phase 2 induction study (UC V). Patients with moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis were enrolled in the Phase 2 and Phase 3 induction studies. In the induction studies, randomized patients received treatment with XELJANZ 10 mg twice daily (938 patients combined) or placebo (282 patients combined) for up to 8 weeks. Patients who completed either Study UC I or Study UC II and achieved clinical response entered Study UC III. In Study UC III, patients were re-randomized, such that 198 patients received XELJANZ 5 mg twice daily, 196 patients received XELJANZ 10 mg twice daily, and 198 patients received placebo for up to 52 weeks. Concomitant use of immunosuppressants or biologics was prohibited during these studies. Concomitant stable doses of oral corticosteroids were allowed in the induction studies, with taper of corticosteroids to discontinuation mandated within 15 weeks of entering the maintenance study. In addition to the induction and maintenance studies, long-term safety was evaluated in an open label long term extension study (Study UC IV).
In induction and maintenance studies, across all treatment groups, the most common categories of serious adverse reactions were gastrointestinal disorders and infections, and the most common serious adverse reaction was worsening of ulcerative colitis.
In the controlled clinical studies for ulcerative colitis, 1 case of breast cancer was reported in a placebo-treated patient and no cases of solid cancers or lymphoma were observed in XELJANZ treated patients. Malignancies have also been observed in the long term extension study in patients with ulcerative colitis treated with XELJANZ, including solid cancers and lymphoma.
In induction and maintenance studies, the most frequent reason for study discontinuation was worsening of ulcerative colitis. Excluding discontinuations due to worsening of ulcerative colitis, the proportion of patients who discontinued due to adverse reactions was less than 5% in any of the XELJANZ or placebo treatment groups in these studies.
Overall, the safety profile observed in patients with ulcerative colitis treated with XELJANZ was consistent with the safety profile of XELJANZ across indications.
Post-marketing Experience: The following adverse reactions have been identified during post-approval use of XELJANZ. Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure.
Immune system disorders: Drug hypersensitivity (events such as angioedema and urticaria have been observed).
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