Efficacy of tofacitinib in patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis who had inadequate responses to prior biologics

This retrospective observational study examined the effect of tofacitinib in two Phase 3 controlled studies. Patients (n = 15) were randomized to receive either tofacitinib 5 or 10 mg or placebo, twice daily. Most patients in both groups were responsive to tofacitinib at week 16. Four patients (25%) used two or more biological agents before tofacitinib. Two of these refractory patients demonstrated a response. In conclusion, tofacitinib provides a comparable therapeutic effect in both prior biologics responders and nonresponders during the initial 16 weeks, especially those exposed to etanercept. Tofacitinib remains a treatment choice in refractory patients who failed multiple previous biologics.