Filgotinib: A Clinical Pharmacology Review

Filgotinib (GS-6034, formerly GLPG0634; Jyseleca(®)) is an oral, preferential Janus kinase (JAK)-1 inhibitor. Preferential inhibition of JAK1 modulates a subset of proinflammatory cytokines within the JAK–signal transducer and activator of transcription pathway, which differ from those inhibited by JAK2 or JAK3. Filgotinib is absorbed extensively and rapidly after oral dosing and is metabolized by carboxylesterase isoform 2 to form its primary active metabolite, GS-829845. The primary metabolite has a similar JAK1 selectivity profile but reduced activity (by 10-fold) and increased systemic exposure (approximately 16- to 20-fold) compared with the parent compound. Both the parent and the metabolite demonstrate low binding to plasma proteins in humans (< 60%). Systemic exposures of filgotinib and its primary metabolite increase dose proportionally over a 50- to 200-mg once-daily dose range. Food does not affect the pharmacokinetics of filgotinib. Consistent with their terminal elimination half-lives (4.9–10.7 h for filgotinib and 19.6–27.3 h for the primary metabolite), steady state in plasma is reached by day 2 for filgotinib and day 4 for its metabolite. Filgotinib is mainly eliminated in the urine as the metabolite (> 80%). Intrinsic factors such as age, sex, race, mild renal impairment, and mild-to-moderate hepatic impairment have either no or minimal impact on the pharmacokinetics of filgotinib and its primary metabolite. Filgotinib has a low drug–drug interaction potential, without clinically significant interactions with commonly coadministered medications in patients with inflammatory diseases. Both filgotinib and its primary metabolite are substrates of P-glycoprotein (P-gp); however, coadministration with P-gp inhibitors and inducers does not affect filgotinib pharmacokinetics sufficiently to warrant dose adjustment. Neither filgotinib nor its primary metabolite affect the corrected QT interval (calculated using Fridericia’s correction formula). Filgotinib is approved for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and ulcerative colitis in Europe, the UK, and Japan.