Eli Lilly Arthritis Drug Enters Trial as Possible COVID-19 Therapy

Eli Lilly’s arthritis treatment Olumiant (baricitinib) is being investigated as a potential COVID-19 treatment in one arm of a National Institutes for Allergy and Infectious Diseases adaptive trial.

The phase 2/3 trial at the University of Colorado is scheduled to begin this month, with results expected within the following two months. An expansion of the trial is planned across sites in Europe and Asia. 

Lilly said it does not anticipate shortages of baricitinib and promised to create an adequate supply for clinical and investigational use.