Winthrop KL, Nash P, Yamaoka K, et al. - From the upadacitinib [UPA, an oral Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor] phase 3 clinical trial program, upadacitinib (UPA)-treated patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) were examined for the incidence and risk factors for herpes zoster (HZ).

• In patients with RA, an increased risk of herpes zoster (HZ) has been reported in correlation with receiving JAK inhibitors.

• This analysis involved a total of 5,306 patients.

• In the MTX monotherapy, ADA + MTX, UPA 15 mg and UPA 30 mg groups, HZ incidence rates were 0.8 per 100 patient-years, 1.1 per 100 patient-years, 3.0 per 100 patient-years and 5.3 per 100 patient-years, respectively.

• Overall patients receiving UPA had higher HZ incidence and event rates.

• A single dermatome was involved in the majority of HZ cases with UPA (71%).

• HZ risk factors were prior history of HZ and Asian region.