MedPath

Upadacitinib

Generic Name
Upadacitinib
Brand Names
Rinvoq
Drug Type
Small Molecule
Chemical Formula
C17H19F3N6O
CAS Number
1310726-60-3
Unique Ingredient Identifier
4RA0KN46E0

Overview

Upadacitinib is an oral Janus kinase (JAK)1-selective inhibitor and a disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis to slow down disease progression. Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune inflammatory disease affecting the peripheral joints. It is characterized by synovial inflammation and hyperplasia, autoantibody production, cartilage damage and bone destruction, leading to co-morbidities. Despite a variety of therapeutic agents available for treatment, up to 40% of the patients do not respond to current therapies, including biological therapies. The etiology of the disease is mostly unknown; however, the role of JAK as a driver of immune-mediated conditions was discovered, leading to the use of JAK as therapeutic targets for rheumatoid arthritis. To reduce dose-related toxicity (as seen with some pan-JAK inhibitors) without significantly affecting efficacy, more selective JAK1 inhibitors, upadacitinib and filgotinib, were developed. The FDA approved upadacitinib in August 2019 and it is used for the treatment of active rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, atopic dermatitis, ulcerative colitis, and ankylosing spondylitis. In December 2019, it was additionally approved by the European Commission. Upadacitinib is marketed under the brand name RINVOQ for oral administration.

Indication

Upadacitinib is indicated for the treatment of moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis or active psoriatic arthritis in adult patients who have had an inadequate response or intolerance to one or more disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs), such as TNF blockers. In Europe, upadacitinib may be used as monotherapy or in combination with methotrexate for rheumatoid or psoriatic arthritis. Upadacitinib is indicated for use in patients 12 years of age and older with refractory, moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis whose disease is inadequately controlled with other systemic therapies or when other therapies are inadvisable. Upadacitinib is indicated for the treatment of active ankylosing spondylitis or radiographic axial spondyloarthritis in adult patients who have an inadequate response to conventional therapy. It is also indicated to treat non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis with objective signs of inflammation in adults who have had an inadequate response or intolerance to TNF blocker therapy. Upadacitinib is also indicated to treat moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis in adults who have had an inadequate response or intolerance to either conventional therapy or a biologic agent, such as to one or more TNF blockers. Upadacitinib is indicated to treat moderately to severely active Crohn’s disease in adults who have had an inadequate response or intolerance to one or more TNF blockers. Combining upadacitinib with other JAK inhibitors, biologic DMARDs, or other potent immunosuppressive agents is not recommended.

Associated Conditions

  • Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS)
  • Moderately to Severely Active Rheumatoid Arthritis
  • Moderately to Severely Active Ulcerative Colitis
  • Severe Atopic Dermatitis
  • Active Ankylosing spondylitis
  • Active Non-radiographic Axial Spondyloarthritis
  • Active Psoriatic arthritis
  • Moderate, active Crohn´s Disease
  • Moderate, refractory Atopic dermatitis
  • Refractory, severe Atopic Dermatitis
  • Severe, active Crohn´s Disease

Clinical Trials

Title
Posted
Study ID
Phase
Status
Sponsor
2025/08/24
Not Applicable
Not yet recruiting
2025/07/23
Not Applicable
Completed
Liu Tian
2025/07/15
Not Applicable
Not yet recruiting
2025/06/16
Phase 3
Recruiting
2025/06/12
Phase 4
Not yet recruiting
2025/04/22
N/A
Recruiting
2025/04/15
Phase 3
Not yet recruiting
Douglas D. Fraser
2025/04/10
N/A
Completed
Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University
2025/03/30
Phase 1
Recruiting
Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University
2025/03/12
Phase 1
Recruiting

FDA Drug Approvals

Approved Product
Manufacturer
NDC Code
Route
Strength
Effective Date
AbbVie Inc.
0074-2310
ORAL
30 mg in 1 1
11/17/2023
AbbVie Inc.
0074-1043
ORAL
45 mg in 1 1
11/17/2023
AbbVie Inc.
0074-2306
ORAL
15 mg in 1 1
11/17/2023

EMA Drug Approvals

Approved Product
Authorization Holder
Status
Issued Date
Authorised
12/16/2019

HSA Drug Approvals

Approved Product
Manufacturer
Approval Number
Dosage Form
Strength
Approval Date
RINVOQ EXTENDED-RELEASE TABLET 30MG
SIN16518P
TABLET, FILM COATED, EXTENDED RELEASE
30mg
6/21/2022
RINVOQ EXTENDED-RELEASE TABLET 15MG
SIN15959P
TABLET, FILM COATED, EXTENDED RELEASE
15mg
6/16/2020
RINVOQ EXTENDED-RELEASE TABLET 45MG
SIN16687P
TABLET, FILM COATED, EXTENDED RELEASE
45mg
2/10/2023

NMPA Drug Approvals

Approved Product
Company
Approval Number
Drug Type
Dosage Form
Approval Date
No NMPA approvals found for this drug.

PPB Drug Approvals

Approved Product
Registration No.
Company
Licence No.
Strength
Registration Date
RINVOQ PROLONGED-RELEASE TABLETS 15MG
N/A
N/A
N/A
10/30/2020

TGA Drug Approvals

Approved Product
ARTG ID
Sponsor
Registration Type
Status
Registration Date
No TGA approvals found for this drug.

Health Canada Drug Approvals

Approved Product
Company
DIN
Dosage Form
Strength
Market Date
RINVOQ
02520893
Tablet (Extended-Release) - Oral
30 MG
10/28/2021
RINVOQ
02539721
Tablet (Extended-Release) - Oral
45 MG
9/7/2023
RINVOQ
02495155
Tablet (Extended-Release) - Oral
15 MG
1/16/2020

CIMA AEMPS Drug Approvals

Approved Product
Company
Registration Number
Pharmaceutical Form
Prescription Type
Status
No CIMA AEMPS (Spain) approvals found for this drug.

Philippines FDA Drug Approvals

Approved Product
Company
License Number
Dosage Form
Strength
Approval Date
No Philippines FDA approvals found for this drug.

Saudi SFDA Drug Approvals

Approved Product
Company
License Number
Dosage Form
Strength
Approval Date
No Saudi SFDA approvals found for this drug.

Malaysia NPRA Drug Approvals

Approved Product
Company
Registration Number
Dosage Form
Strength
Approval Date
No Malaysia NPRA approvals found for this drug.

UK EMC Drug Information

Medicine Name
MA Holder
MA Number
Pharmaceutical Form
Active Ingredient
Authorization Date
No UK EMC drug information found for this drug.

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