Eli Lilly says its rheumatoid arthritis therapy Olumiant (baricitinib) combined with Gilead Sciences’ antiviral remdesivir reduced COVID-19 patient recovery time by 12.5 percent, or from eight to seven days, over remdesivir alone.

New data from phase 3 of the Adaptive COVID-19 Treatment Trial (ACTT-2) sponsored by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases showed that the combination also increased the likelihood of clinical improvement by 30 percent after 15 days of treatment, the company said.

In addition, patients receiving supplemental oxygen saw mortality reduced by 60 percent. At 29 days post-treatment, mortality was reduced 35 percent for all patients taking the combination.

Lilly is seeking an Emergency Use Authorization for Olumiant and is “in discussions with the FDA regarding the potential to make baricitinib available to hospitalized patients as quickly as possible," a company spokesperson said.