Lilly planning Phase III trials for Olumiant in lupus

Eli Lilly and Co. (NYSE:LLY) said it plans to start this year Phase III testing of Olumiant baricitinib to treat systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) after reporting that the higher dose of the drug met the primary endpoint in a Phase II trial in the indication. Lilly presented the data at the European League Against Rheumatology meeting in Amsterdam.

Olumiant, a Janus kinase-1 (JAK-1) and JAK-2 inhibitor, is approved in over 40 countries to treat moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis (see BioCentury, June 8)...