What is Tofacitinib?

Tofacitinib (Tofacitinib) is a generic prescription drug used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis and ulcerative colitis, sold under brand names such asXeljanz. Tofacitinib is a Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor . Janus kinase is a group of intracellular enzymes involved in signaling pathways that affect hematopoietic and immune cell function. It can prevent the body's response to cytokine signals. By inhibiting JAKs, tofacitinib prevents the phosphorylation and activation of STATs.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves tofacitinib for the treatment of patients with moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis who have an inadequate response to methotrexate or who are intolerant to methotrexate. In addition to rheumatoid arthritis, tofacitinib has been studied in clinical trials to prevent organ transplant rejection and is currently being studied to treat psoriasis. Common side effects include diarrhea, headache, and high blood pressure, as well as more serious immune and hematological side effects.

Tofacitinib has been launched in China and has entered the scope of Class B medical insurance. The common specification is tofacitinib citrate tablets. The price paid by medical insurance per tablet is around RMB 16.6. The reimbursement ratio is different in different regions, and the price after reimbursement will be different. Overseas, there are also tofacitinib generic drugs produced in other countries. The price of each box produced by a Bangladeshi pharmaceutical factory is around RMB 300 (the price may fluctuate due to the exchange rate). The ingredients of domestic original drugs and foreign generic drugs are basically the same, and the prices of different specifications will be different.