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Original Article
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- Comparison of JAK inhibitors and biologics with respect to pain reduction in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: data from the KOBIO registry
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1Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Uijeongbu St. Mary’s Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea
2Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Research Institute of Medical Science, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
- Corresponding author: Hong Ki Min ,Tel: +82-2-2030-6741, Email: alsghdrl1921@naver.com
- Received: September 2, 2025; Revised: June 1, 2026 Accepted: June 16, 2026.
- Abstract
- Background/Aims
To compare the pain-reducing efficacy of Janus kinase inhibitors (JAKis) and biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
Methods
Patients with RA enrolled in the Korean College of Rheumatology Biologics and Targeted Therapy (KOBIO) registry were grouped according to use of JAKis, TNFis, and non-TNFi bDMARDs. The primary outcome was to compare the changes in pain on a numeric rating scale (NRS, range 0–10) between enrolment and first follow-up. Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the factors associated with a low pain NRS score (< 2) and retention at the 1-year follow-up.
Results
The analysis included 2,415 patients with RA in the JAKis (n = 422), TNFis (n = 1,148), and non-TNFi bDMARDs groups (n = 845). The change in pain NRS was significantly greater in the JAKis group than in the TNFis group (2.8 ± 2.5 vs. 2.3 ± 2.9, respectively; p < 0.01). The adjusted mean additional pain reduction was significantly greater in the JAKis than in the TNFis group (–0.42, 95% confidence interval [CI]: –0.73 to –0.10). The adjusted odds ratio (OR) for achieving a pain NRS score < 2 with initial drug retention at 1 year follow-up was significantly lower in the TNFis (OR = 0.515; 95% CI: 0.406–0.652) and non-TNFi bDMARDs (OR = 0.586; 95% CI: 0.458–0.751) groups than in the JAKis group.
Conclusions
Among patients who achieved treatment response and remained on therapy, JAKis were associated with greater improvement in pain control than TNFis.
Keywords :Rheumatoid arthritis; Pain; Janus kinase inhibitor; Biologics; Cohort study
