Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40949844›Full record

ReviewTherapeutic advances in gastroenterology2025

Tofacitinib in acute severe ulcerative colitis: review addressing seven key unmet needs.

Chuong Dinh Nguyen, Luan Minh Dang, Thong Duy Vo, Hoang Huu Bui, Eun Soo Kim, Joyce Wing Yan Mak, Choon Jin Ooi

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Therapeutic advances in gastroenterology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Chuong Dinh NguyenDepartment of Gastroenterology, University Medical Center, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7703-0932
Luan Minh DangDepartment of Gastroenterology, University Medical Center Ho Chi Minh City, 215 Hong Bang Street, Cho Lon Ward, Ho Chi Minh City 700000, Vietnam.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9295-4308
Thong Duy VoDepartment of Gastroenterology, University Medical Center, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4151-7861
Hoang Huu BuiDepartment of Gastroenterology, University Medical Center, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
Eun Soo KimDivision of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, South Korea.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0806-9136
Joyce Wing Yan MakDepartment of Medicine and Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5221-7349
Choon Jin OoiGleneagles Medical Centre, Singapore.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8961-5455

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Tofacitinib, an oral Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor, shows promise as a rescue therapy for acute severe ulcerative colitis (ASUC), a life-threatening condition marked by high colectomy rates. This narrative review synthesizes evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs), observational studies, and systematic reviews. The efficacy of tofacitinib has been documented, with an 83.01% day-7 response rate in the TACOS trial and 79.9%-86% 90-day colectomy-free survival in steroid-refractory ASUC. However, seven unmet needs impede the adoption of tofacitinib treatment for managing ASUC: (1) a lack of head-to-head RCTs comparing tofacitinib not only to standard rescue therapies like infliximab and ciclosporin but also to other JAK inhibitors like upadacitinib, (2) uncertainty in optimal dosing and duration, (3) ambiguity in positioning tofacitinib in the treatment algorithm, (4) undefined patient selection criteria, notably for those with prior biologic exposure, (5) limited long-term efficacy and cost-utilization data, (6) unresolved safety risks (e.g., infections, thrombosis), and (7) underexplored potential for combination therapy. These gaps undermine the widespread use of tofacitinib in reducing surgical burden and improving outcomes. Collaborative research-especially multi-center RCTs comparing tofacitinib to infliximab, ciclosporin, and next-generation JAK inhibitors-is vital for establishing evidence-based protocols. Addressing these needs could optimize tofacitinib-based ASUC management, offering a rapid, oral alternative to enhance patient care.

Indexed as

acute severe ulcerative colitisinflammatory bowel diseaseJanus kinase inhibitortofacitinibunmet needs

Identifiers

PMID40949844
PMCPMC12426397

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.