Are tofacitinib/Shangjie and tofacitinib citrate tablets the same?

Tofacitinib/Shangjie（Tofacitinib) and tofacitinib citrate tablets are essentially the same medicine. The main differences lie in the naming of the medicine and the expression of the salt form. Tofacitinib is the generic name of the drug, while Shangjie is the trade name; and "Tofacitinib Citrate Tablets" is the common pharmaceutical naming method for the drug, which essentially refers to the same active ingredient.

In the process of drug development and marketing, many small molecule drugs will be in different salt forms to improve stability, solubility and bioavailability. Tofacitinib has chosen the citrate form to achieve better oral absorption and efficacy. Therefore, from pharmacological effects, clinical indications, dosage design to adverse reaction characteristics, the two are completely consistent. Whether it is "Tofacitinib Tablets" or "Tofacitinib Citrate Tablets" that patients see, there is no difference in its therapeutic effect and application scope. It is mainly used for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ulcerative colitis (UC), ankylosing spondylitis, etc.

It should be noted that Shangjie appears more frequently in clinical prescriptions and marketing as a trade name, while tofacitinib citrate tablets are widely used in pharmacopoeias and instructions as a generic scientific name. For patients, this difference in naming will not affect the medication effect, and there is no need to worry about whether there is drug substitution or reduced efficacy.

In addition, in some regions, there may be generic drugs launched by different manufacturers. The active ingredient is also tofacitinib, but there are slight differences in dosage form, specifications or excipients. Whether it is the original drug Shangjie or tofacitinib citrate tablets, the key is that their active ingredients are the same, and they are both JAK inhibitors, with the same mechanism of action and clinical use. Therefore, it can be clearly said that tofacitinib/Shangjie and tofacitinib citrate tablets are essentially the same drug, and the only difference lies in the naming method and salt type description.

Reference materials:https://www.xeljanz.com/