Retrospective, multicenter study on the impact of baricitinib in COVID-19 moderate pneumonia

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jinf.2020.06.052

113 patients were in the baricitinib-arm, and 78 in the control-arm. The
results indicate that the 2-week case fatality rate was significantly lower in the baricitinib-arm compared with controls [0% (0/113) vs 6.4% (5/78) (p-value: 0.010; 95%CI 0.0000–0.4569)]. ICU admission was requested in 0.88% (1/113) vs 17.9% (14/78) patients in the baricitinib-arm compared to the control-arm (week 1, p-value: 0.019; 95%CI 0.0092-0.6818), (week
2, p-value: <0.0001; 95%CI 0.0038–0.2624). Discharge rate was significantly higher in the baricitinib-arm at week 1 [9.7% (11/113) vs 1.3% (1/78) (p-value: 0.039; 95%CI: 1.41-90.71)], and at week 2 [77.8% (88/113) vs 12.8% (10/78) (p:<0.0001; 95%CI 10.79–51.74)]. In conclusion, baricitinib is a promising and safe therapy in patients with moderate COVID-19 pneumonia.