Baricitinib in the Treatment of COVID-19

Baricitinib is a novel Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor which has recently been included in recommendations for treatment of COVID-19. This chapter is focused on discussing the evidence available regarding the safety and efficacy of use of baricitinib alone or in combination with other therapies for treatment of patients with COVID-19. A systematic literature search was conducted for this purpose to find all clinical studies on baricitinib in treatment of COVID-19. A total of 30 studies, including both clinical trials and observational studies were identified, and they have been described briefly. Collation of the results from these observational and interventional studies shows that baricitinib either alone or in combination with other drugs, when used as an add-on to standard therapy, was found to have favorable outcomes in hospitalized patients with moderate to severe COVID-19. Furthermore, ongoing clinical trials indicate that the drug is still under evaluation across the world for its safety and efficacy in COVID-19. The recent approval of baricitinib by the US FDA for treatment of hospitalized adults with COVID-19 accurately reflects the role of the drug in COVID-19. Baricitinib improves clinical outcomes in hospitalized COVID-19 patients, and additional evidence may establish the drug as a standard treatment in such patients.