(29 June 2020) Baricitinib- induced changes in the immune landscape were associated with a favorable clinical outcome of patients with COVID-19 pneumonia

Baricitinib restrains the immune dysregulation in COVID-19 patients

https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.06.26.20135319

Evidences that baricitinib-induced changes in the immune landscape were
associated with a favorable clinical outcome of patients with COVID-19 pneumonia are provided in this study. A significant reduction in serum levels of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1β and tumor necrosis factor (TNF), a rapid recovery in circulating T and B cell frequencies and an increased antibody production against SARS-CoV-2 spike protein in baricitinib-treated
patients. Moreover, treated patients underwent a rapid reduction in oxygen flow need and progressive increase in the P/F. Only one of the 20 baricitinib-treated patients (5%) died after the completion of therapeutic treatment compared to 25 dead patients (45%) out of 56 in non baricitinib treated patients’ group (p<0.001).