Lilly's Olumiant, is clinically approved for COVID-19

Second phase III clinical trial following Remdesivir

Olumiant

Eli Lilly's autoimmune disease treatment 'Olumiant (Baricitinib)' has begun phase III clinical trial targeting COVID-19 patients in Korea.

 

It is the second clinical trial in Korea related to COVID-19 after Remdesivir by Gilead Science.

 

On the 7th, the MFDS approved a phase III clinical trial plan of Baricitinib (LY3009104) in Lilly Korea for COVID-19 patients.

 

This clinical trial is part of Lilly's global phase III clinical trial.

 

It will be held from this month to next October, and the size of the clinical trial is 600 sujects.

 

Among them, 15 domestic patients are expected to receive medication at Ajou University Hospital.

 

Lilly has already started clinical trial in the US and Europe since last June.

 

According to the company, Olumiant is expected to be able to reduce cytokine storms, one of the symptoms of infection complications caused by COVID-19.

 

In clinical trials previously conducted in Italy, etc., positive results were found in improving the symptoms of COVID-19 patients.

 

The most representative study was conducted in 7 hospitals in Italy from February 20 to March 15 this year.

 

It was published in 'The Journal of Infection' on the 23rd of last month.

 

The researchers administered Olumiant and Kaletra (Lopinavir + Ritonavir) together to 113 patients for 2 weeks in 192 COVID-19 patients, and only Kaletra to the remaining 78 patients.

 

Olumiant Kaletra Lopinavir / Ritonavir As a result, the mortality rate, the intensive care unit admission rate, the discharge rate, and COVID-19 virus detection rate were all positive in the group administered with Olumiant.

 

As for the mortality rate, there were no dead patients in the Olumiant co-administration group, while 5 (6.4%) died in the control group.

 

There was also no intensive care unit admission rate in the co-administration group, whereas 14 patients (17.9%) in the control group occurred.

 

As for the discharge rate, 88 out of 113 patients in the co-administration group were discharged, recording 77.9%, whereas in the control group, 10 out of 78 patients were discharged, which was 12.8%.

 

Two weeks after treatment, the detection rate of COVID-19 was 12.5% in the co-administered group and 40% in the control group.

 

Results of a study on the therapeutic effect of COVID-19 in the combination of Olumiant + Kaletra (Data The Journal of infection)

Remdesivir is the only treatment for COVID-19 officially recognized in Korea so far.

 

It is expected to be the second treatment if Olumiant finishes phase III clinical trial and obtains approval as a treatment for COVID-19.

 

Remdesivir In the case of Remdesivir, the effect of shortening the hospital stay has been proven in clinical trials.

 

However, it failed to prove the improvement in mortality.

 

If Olumiant proves an improvement in mortality in this clinical trial, it is expected to receive more attention than remdesivir.