Eli Lilly's Oral JAK Inhibitor Olumiant Effective in Severe COVID-19 Patients

According to the latest results from the RECOVERY trial, Eli Lilly and Incyte's oral JAK inhibitor Olumiant (Chinese trade name: elemin, generic name: baricitinib, baricitinib) in combination with other drugs in hospitalized severe COVID-19 patients, Reduced the risk of death by 13%
.
Olumiant is an oral JAK1/JAK2 inhibitor developed by Eli Lilly under license from Incyte for the treatment of a variety of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases
.
Olumiant is also authorized or approved for the treatment of COVID-19 in some countries
.
Led by the University of Oxford, the RECOVERY trial is the world's largest study of a COVID-19 treatment involving more than 47,000 participants in the UK
.
The trial has tested various possible treatment options since March 2020
.
Between February and December 2021, 4008 patients were randomized to usual care and 4118 patients were randomized to Olumiant+usual care
.
The routine nursing program is divided into: (1) tocilizumab + dexamethasone; (2) remdesivir
.
Tocilizumab and dexamethasone are 2 anti-inflammatory drugs that have previously been shown to improve survival in severely ill COVID-19 patients
.
Remdesivir is an antiviral drug from Gilead
.
Results of the trial showed that 12% (513) of patients receiving Olumiant plus usual care died within 28 days, compared with 14% (546) of patients receiving usual care alone
.
Olumiant + usual care significantly reduced mortality by 13% compared to usual care
.
Additionally, Olumiant demonstrated consistent benefit regardless of whether patients received usual care with tocilizumab + dexamethasone or remdesivir
.
Additionally, patients receiving Olumiant + usual care were more likely to be discharged within 28 days, less likely to progress to requiring mechanical ventilation or to die, and had no evidence of an increased risk of infection or blood clots—both Olumiant Potential side effects of treatment
.
These results are consistent with earlier findings of Olumiant's treatment of COVID-19
.
Early data confirming Olumiant's significant impact on mortality led to Olumiant's inclusion on the WHO list of treatments for COVID-19 earlier this year
.
But early trials had little information on the combination of Olumiant with tocilizumab
.
Martin Landray, principal co-investigator of the RECOVERY trial, commented that it has now been established that an excessive immune response is a key cause of lung damage in patients admitted to hospital with severe COVID-19
.
Compared with previous data, the RECOVERY trial data released this time not only show that Olumiant can improve the survival chances of severe COVID-19 patients, but also helps to suppress the overactive immune response.
metasone) may provide additional therapeutic benefit
.
Reference source: Olumiant benefits additive to other drugs in severe COVID patients