Lilly’s rheumatoid arthritis drug effective in phase 2

Phase 2 clinical trial results of Eli Lilly & Company's rheumatoid arthritis drug, baricitinib, show that the drug is effective in reducing the painful symptoms associated with the disease.

The mid-stage JADA clinical study of baricitinib, formerly LY3009104 (INCB28050), evaluated the drug in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Baricitinib is an orally available Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor being studied for use in the treatment of certain autoimmune conditions, including RA. Among patients completing the open-label extension, clinical improvements observed at week 24 were sustained at the end of 52 weeks.

The long-term extension of the JADA study evaluated the efficacy and safety of baricitinib in 201 patients taking either 4 mg or 8 mg once daily for up to 52 weeks.

Trial data on the drug was released by Lilly last year after 12 and 24 weeks of treatment. Because baricitinib showed positive results after 24 weeks of treatment, Lilly began late-stage trials.

If approved, baricitinib will compete against injected rheumatoid arthritis drugs that currently dominate the market, including Pfizer's Xeljanz. AstraZeneca, on the other hand, recently decided not to pursue regulatory filings of its investigational rheumatoid arthritis drug, fostamatinib, following disappointing phase 3 clinical trial results.