Treatment with baricitinib, an orally administered inhibitor of Janus kinases 1 and 2, improved clinical features in patients with active RA and an inadequate response to methotrexate, and was more effective than adalimumab or placebo. 70% of patients treated with 4mg baricitinib daily achieved an ACR20 response by week 12, compared with 61% of those treated with 40mg adalimumab every other week and 40% of the placebo group. Baricitinib treatment also improved radiographic progression of joint damage, and was associated with reduced neutrophil counts and increased levels of creatinine and LDL cholesterol.
References
Taylor, P. C. et al. Baricitinib versus placebo or adalimumab in rheumatoid arthritis. N. Engl. J. Med. http://dx.doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa1608345 (2017)
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McHugh, J. Baricitinib more effective than adalimumab. Nat Rev Rheumatol 13, 197 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrrheum.2017.32
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nrrheum.2017.32