An orally available Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor, Baricitinib is being studied to treat certain autoimmune conditions, including RA.
Clinical improvements which were observed at 24-week continued at the end of 52-week among the patients completing the open-label extension.
Under the long-term extension of the JADA study, around 201 patients were administered either 4mg or 8mg once daily for up to 52 weeks.
The trial results proved that there were no hazardous effects caused in the Phase 2b JADA study of Baricitinib.
University of Oxford Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences Nuffield department Musculoskeletal Sciences Norman Collisson Chair Peter Taylor said that baricitinib demonstrated an acceptable safety profile and side effects have generally been straightforward to manage, to date.
"These encouraging findings support further investigation of this new drug in rheumatoid arthritis," Taylor added.