The JAK attack: transforming the management of ulcerative colitis in India

Inflammatory bowel disease is increasingly recognized as a significant clinical entity in India, reflecting the country's ongoing epidemiological transition. With a rising incidence and an expanding disease spectrum, the limitations of conventional therapeutic agents, such as corticosteroids and thiopurines, have become increasingly evident. This review examines the transformative role of Janus kinase inhibitors, particularly tofacitinib, in redefining therapeutic goals and bridging the gap between medical innovation and real-world implementation in resource-limited settings. Tofacitinib represents a pivotal advancement in the therapeutic landscape of ulcerative colitis (UC) in India, offering the advantages of oral administration, rapid onset of action, predictable pharmacokinetics, and cost-effective generic formulations-thereby overcoming several longstanding barriers to the adoption of advanced therapies. Accumulating real-world evidence from India supports its clinical utility across various phenotypes of UC, including corticosteroid-dependent or refractory disease, acute severe UC, ulcerative proctitis, elderly-onset UC, and in achieving deeper remission endpoints such as histologic healing. Furthermore, its incorporation into routine clinical practice has contributed to a measurable reduction in corticosteroid reliance, thereby aligning treatment strategies with international standards of care. By combining efficacy, safety, accessibility, and ease of use, tofacitinib has catalyzed a paradigm shift in the management of UC in the Indian context.