Higher Dose of UC Drug Xeljanz Increased Clot Risk in RA Study

The FDA issued a safety announcement alerting health professionals and the public about an increased risk for pulmonary embolism and death found when a 10-mg twice daily dose of tofacitinib was used in a study of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. That dosage, although not approved for patients with RA, is the standard induction dose to treat ulcerative colitis, which raises concerns for patients with certain risk factors.

When the FDA first approved tofacitinib (Xeljanz, Xeljanz XR) in 2012,