The FDA has approved five tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors for treatment of moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis (RA). TNF-α is a pro-inflammatory cytokine involved in the pathogenesis of many systemic inflammatory disorders.

The FDA has approved the oral Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor upadacitinib (Rinvoq – Abbvie) for treatment of moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis in adults who have had an inadequate response to or cannot tolerate one or more tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors. Upadacitinib is the second JAK inhibitor to be approved for this indication; tofacitinib (Xeljanz) was the first. Upadacitinib is also approved for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, atopic dermatitis, and ankylosing spondylitis.