Chemical formula: C₁₇H₁₉F₃N₆O Molecular mass: 380.375 g/mol
Upadacitinib is a selective and reversible Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor. JAKs are intracellular enzymes that transmit cytokine or growth factor signals involved in a broad range of cellular processes including inflammatory responses, hematopoiesis, and immune surveillance. The JAK family of enzymes contains four members, JAK1, JAK2, JAK3 and TYK2 which work in pairs to phosphorylate and activate signal transducers and activators of transcription (STATs). This phosphorylation, in turn, modulates gene expression and cellular function. JAK1 is important in inflammatory cytokine signals while JAK2 is important for red blood cell maturation and JAK3 signals play a role in immune surveillance and lymphocyte function.
In human cellular assays, upadacitinib preferentially inhibits signalling by JAK1 or JAK1/3 with functional selectivity over cytokine receptors that signal via pairs of JAK2. Atopic dermatitis is driven by pro-inflammatory cytokines (including IL-4, IL-13, IL-22, TSLP, IL-31 and IFN-γ) that transduce signals via the JAK1 pathway. Inhibiting JAK1 with upadacitinib reduces the signaling of many mediators which drive the signs and symptoms of atopic dermatitis such as eczematous skin lesions and pruritus. Pro-inflammatory cytokines (primarily IL-6, IL-7, IL-15 and IFNγ) transduce signals via the JAK1 pathway and are involved in the pathology of inflammatory bowel diseases. JAK1 inhibition with upadacitinib modulates the signalling of the JAK-dependent cytokines underlying the inflammatory burden and signs and symptoms of inflammatory bowel diseases.
In healthy volunteers, the administration of upadacitinib (immediate-release formulation) resulted in a dose- and concentration-dependent inhibition of IL-6 (JAK1/JAK2) - induced STAT3 and IL-7 (JAK1/JAK3)-induced STAT5 phosphorylation in whole blood. The maximal inhibition was observed 1 hour after dosing which returned to near baseline by the end of dosing interval.
In patients with rheumatoid arthritis, treatment with upadacitinib was associated with a small, transient increase in mean ALC from baseline up to week 36 which gradually returned to at or near baseline levels with continued treatment.
In patients with rheumatoid arthritis, treatment with upadacitinib was associated with decreases from baseline in mean hsCRP levels as early as week 1 which were maintained with continued treatment.
The influence of upadacitinib on the humoral response following administration of adjuvanted recombinant glycoprotein E herpes zoster vaccine was evaluated in 93 patients with rheumatoid arthritis under stable treatment with upadacitinib 15 mg. 98% of patients were on concomitant methotrexate. 49% of patients were on oral corticosteroids at baseline. The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients with a satisfactory humoral response defined as ≥4-fold increase in pre-vaccination concentration of anti-glycoprotein E titer levels at week 16 (4 weeks post-dose 2 vaccination). Vaccination of patients treated with upadacitinib 15 mg resulted in a satisfactory humoral response in 79/90 (88% [95% CI: 81.0, 94.5]) of patients at week 16.
The influence of upadacitinib on the humoral response following the administration of inactivated pneumococcal polysaccharide conjugate vaccine (13-valent, adsorbed) was evaluated in 111 patients with rheumatoid arthritis under stable treatment with upadacitinib 15 mg (n=87) or 30 mg (n=24). 97% of patients (n=108) were on concomitant methotrexate. The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients with satisfactory humoral response defined as ≥ 2-fold increase in antibody concentration from baseline to week 4 in at least 6 out of the 12 pneumococcal antigens (1, 3, 4, 5, 6B, 7F, 9V, 14, 18C, 19A, 19F, and 23F). Results at week 4 demonstrated a satisfactory humoral response in 67.5% (95% CI: 57.4, 77.5) and 56.5% (95% CI: 36.3, 76.8) of patients treated with upadacitinib 15 mg and 30 mg, respectively.
Upadacitinib plasma exposures are proportional to dose over the therapeutic dose range. Steady-state plasma concentrations are achieved within 4 days with minimal accumulation after multiple once daily administrations.
Following oral administration of upadacitinib prolonged-release formulation, upadacitinib is absorbed with a median Tmax of 2 to 4 hours. Coadministration of upadacitinib with a high-fat meal had no clinically relevant effect on upadacitinib exposures (increased AUC by 29% and Cmax by 39% to 60%). In clinical trials, upadacitinib was administered without regard to meals. In vitro, upadacitinib is a substrate for the efflux transporters P-gp and BCRP.
Upadacitinib is 52% bound to plasma proteins. Upadacitinib partitions similarly between plasma and blood cellular components, as indicated by the blood to plasma ratio of 1.0.
Upadacitinib metabolism is mediated by CYP3A4 with a potential minor contribution from CYP2D6. The pharmacologic activity of upadacitinib is attributed to the parent molecule. In a human radiolabeled study, unchanged upadacitinib accounted for 79% of the total radioactivity in plasma while the main metabolite (product of monooxidation followed by glucuronidation) accounted for 13% of the total plasma radioactivity. No active metabolites have been identified for upadacitinib.
Following single dose administration of [14C]-upadacitinib immediate-release solution, upadacitinib was eliminated predominantly as the unchanged parent substance in urine (24%) and faeces (38%). Approximately 34% of upadacitinib dose was excreted as metabolites. Upadacitinib mean terminal elimination half-life ranged from 9 to 14 hours.
Upadacitinib AUC was 18%, 33%, and 44% higher in subjects with mild (estimated glomerular filtration rate 60 to 89 ml/min/1.73 m²), moderate (estimated glomerular filtration rate 30 to 59 ml/min/1.73 m²), and severe (estimated glomerular filtration rate 15 to 29 ml/min/1.73 m²) renal impairment, respectively, compared to subjects with normal renal function. Upadacitinib Cmax was similar in subjects with normal and impaired renal function. Mild or moderate renal impairment has no clinically relevant effect on upadacitinib exposure.
Mild (Child-Pugh A) and moderate (Child-Pugh B) hepatic impairment has no clinically relevant effect on upadacitinib exposure. Upadacitinib AUC was 28% and 24% higher in subjects with mild and moderate hepatic impairment, respectively, compared to subjects with normal liver function. Upadacitinib Cmax was unchanged in subjects with mild hepatic impairment and 43% higher in subjects with moderate hepatic impairment compared to subjects with normal liver function. Upadacitinib was not studied in patients with severe (Child-Pugh C) hepatic impairment.
The pharmacokinetics of upadacitinib have not yet been evaluated in paediatric patients with rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, axial spondyloarthritis, ulcerative colitis, and Crohn’s disease.
Upadacitinib pharmacokinetics and steady-state concentrations are similar for adults and adolescents 12 to 17 years of age with atopic dermatitis. The posology in adolescent patients 30 kg to <40 kg was determined using population pharmacokinetic modelling and simulation.
The pharmacokinetics of upadacitinib in paediatric patients (<12 years of age) with atopic dermatitis have not been established.
Age, sex, body weight, race, and ethnicity did not have a clinically meaningful effect on upadacitinib exposure. Upadacitinib pharmacokinetics are consistent between rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, axial spondyloarthritis, atopic dermatitis, ulcerative colitis, and Crohn’s disease patients.
Non-clinical data reveal no special hazard for humans based on conventional studies of safety pharmacology.
Upadacitinib, at exposures (based on AUC) approximately 4 and 10 times the clinical dose of 15 mg, 2 and 5 times the clinical dose of 30 mg, and 1.7 and 4 times the clinical dose of 45 mg in male and female Sprague-Dawley rats, respectively, was not carcinogenic in a 2-year carcinogenicity study in Sprague-Dawley rats. Upadacitinib was not carcinogenic in a 26-week carcinogenicity study in CByB6F1-Tg(HRAS)2Jic transgenic mice.
Upadacitinib was not mutagenic or genotoxic based on the results of in vitro and in vivo tests for gene mutations and chromosomal aberrations.
Upadacitinib had no effect on fertility in male or female rats at exposures up to approximately 17 and 34 times the maximum recommended human dose (MRHD) of 45 mg in males and females, respectively, on an AUC basis in a fertility and early embryonic development study. Dose-related increases in foetal resorptions associated with post-implantation losses in this fertility study in rats were attributed to the developmental/teratogenic effects of upadacitinib. No adverse effects were observed at exposures below clinical exposure (based on AUC). Post-implantation losses were observed at exposures 9 times the clinical exposure at the MRHD of 45 mg (based on AUC).
In animal embryo-foetal development studies, upadacitinib was teratogenic in both rats and rabbits. Upadacitinib resulted in increases in skeletal malformations in rats at 1.6, 0.8, and 0.6 times the clinical exposure (AUC-based) at the 15, 30, and 45 mg (MRHD) doses, respectively. In rabbits an increased incidence of cardiovascular malformations was observed at 15, 7.6, and 6 times the clinical exposure at the 15, 30, and 45 mg doses (AUC-based), respectively.
Following administration of upadacitinib to lactating rats, the concentrations of upadacitinib in milk over time generally paralleled those in plasma, with approximately 30-fold higher exposure in milk relative to maternal plasma. Approximately 97% of upadacitinib-related material in milk was the parent molecule, upadacitinib.
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