Tofacitinib (Pfizer) success in Phase II study for Ulcerative Colitis

A Phase II trial of tofacitinib from Pfizer shows it has potential as an effective treatment for Ulcerative Colitis. The trial studied the efficacy of tofacitinib in 194 adults with severely active forms of the disease. Patients were randomised for treatment with tofacitinib at a dose of 0.5 mg, 3 mg, 10 mg, or 15 mg or were given a placebo, twice daily for two months. The results showed that 78% of patients taking the highest dose (15mg) of the drug experienced a clinical response at eight weeks, compared to 42% of patients in the placebo arm. In addition, clinical remission was observed in 41% of patients given the 15mg dose and 48% of patients taking the 10mg dose, compared with 10% in the control group. Results were published in the New England Journal of Medicine.see "Tofacitinib, an Oral Janus Kinase Inhibitor, in Active Ulcerative Colitis.-"William J. Sandborn et al. N Engl J Med 2012; 367:616-624August 16, 2012 http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1112168.