JAK inhibitor drugs may weaken immune defense against severe viruses

· Science

Scientists have found that widely used anti-inflammatory drugs may unintentionally help dangerous viruses spread through the body. JAK inhibitors, prescribed for rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory diseases, appear to weaken a crucial immune defense against influenza, COVID-19 and other viruses. The discovery raises questions about how these drugs are used in patients at risk of viral infection and points to a mechanism that could be relevant across a broad class of treatments.

Why it matters：JAK inhibitors are prescribed to large populations of patients with chronic inflammatory disease, so a mechanism that impairs antiviral defense could affect prescribing decisions and drug-safety monitoring.

Key points

  • JAK inhibitors are prescribed for rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory conditions.
  • The weakened defense concerns influenza, COVID-19 and other viruses.
  • The finding suggests a mechanism that may apply across a drug class.

Sources (original reporting)

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