Baricitinib compares favourably with filgotinib for RA

In the treatment of patients with rheumatoid arthritis, baricitinib is equally effective as filgotinib at reducing disease activity, with similar drug retention rates, according to a retrospective study.

The study included 101 and 103 consecutive RA patients who received baricitinib and filgotinib, respectively, between 2020 and 2023. Kaplan–Meier curves were used to analyse drug retention, with the log-rank test applied for between-group comparisons. Meanwhile, paired t-tests was used to assess differences in Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI) score from baseline, with generalized estimating equations applied to compare the treatment groups.

Baseline characteristics did not significantly differ between the baricitinib and filgotinib groups. Drug retention rates due to ineffectiveness or adverse events were similar between the two groups.

In terms of disease activity, the estimated mean CDAI score in the baricitinib group decreased from 17.8 at baseline to 9.1 at week 4, to 6.6 at week 12, and to 6.3 at week 24 (p<0.001 for all comparisons). In the filgotinib group, on the other hand, the estimated mean CDAI score dropped from 16.5 at baseline to 7.8 at week 4, to 6.2 at week 12, and to 6.1 at week 24 (p<0.001 for all comparisons).

The CDAI score was consistently similar between the two groups across all time points, as was the percentage of patients who achieved CDAI remission (CDAI ≤2.8) after 4 (23 percent vs 21 percent), 12 (33 percent vs 33 percent), and 24 weeks (33 percent vs 37 percent).