Baricitinib tops Humira in Phase III RA study

Eli Lilly and Co. (NYSE:LLY) and Incyte Corp. (NASDAQ:INCY) said baricitinib ( LY3009104) met the primary outcome of superiority to placebo and also was superior to Humira adalimumab from AbbVie Inc. (NYSE:ABBV) in the Phase III RA-BEAM study to treat rheumatoid arthritis.

Baricitinib, a Janus kinase-1 (JAK-1) and JAK-2 inhibitor, was superior to both comparators in the proportion of participants achieving ACR20 response after 12 weeks of treatment. The partners said baricitinib also was superior to Humira in improving disease activity score based on 28 joint counts (DAS28) after 12 weeks, and was superior to placebo at preventing progressive radiographic structural joint damage after 24 weeks. ...