Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer Risk With JAK Inhibitors Compared to Interleukin‐6 Receptor Inhibitors in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Results From a National Cohort Study
Authors' conclusion
Initiation of JAKi was associated with a clinically small, plausibly higher NMSC risk than IL-6Ri, although not statistically significant over 3.3 years.
Study context
- Population
- People with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) initiating first JAK Inhibitors (JAKi) or IL-6Ri, British Society for Rheumatology Biologics Register for Rheumatoid Arthritis116 first-ever nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC)
- Participants
- 3,985 people
- Exposure
- JAKi vs IL-6Ri in RA
- Outcome
- First-ever NMSC (ever-exposed model, first 90 days after initiation excluded)
Methodological detailsnational register (BSRBR-RA) linked to National Cancer Registration and Analysis Service, inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW), Cox proportional hazards, ever-exposed model, first 90 days excluded
- National register (BSRBR-RA) linked to National Cancer Registration and Analysis Service
- IPTW
- Cox proportional hazards
- Ever-exposed model, first 90 days excluded
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
NMSC, ever-exposed (primary analysis)
JAKi vs IL-6RiIPTW hazard ratio (95% CI)
NMSC, ever-exposed (primary analysis)
1.64(0.85–3.17)
- Around one additional NMSC event for every 307 patients initiating JAKi rather than IL-6Ri observed for one year
- IPT-weighted absolute rate difference 3.3 events per 1,000 person-years
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Events
| Outcome | JAKi | IL-6Ri | IPTW HR (95% CI) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NMSC, receiving-treatment analysis | 19 | 32 | 1.82 (0.84–3.96) | |
| 0.20.5125IPTW hazard ratio (log scale) |
Original publication
Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer Risk With JAK Inhibitors Compared to Interleukin‐6 Receptor Inhibitors in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Results From a National Cohort Study. Arthritis Rheumatol. Published 9 July 2026. doi:10.
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