UK’s NICE Recommends Eli Lilly’s Olumiant for Eczema

The UK’s National Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has recommended the use of Eli Lilly’s Olumiant (baricitinib) for patients whose moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (eczema) has not responded to at least one systemic immunosuppressant, such as ciclosporin, methotrexate, azathioprine and mycophenolate mofetil, or in cases where they are not suitable.

Almost half of patients treated with Olumiant during its phase 3 trial showed a 75 percent improvement in their eczema from baseline compared to 23 percent in the placebo group.

Olumiant is an oral JAK inhibitor that works as an immunosuppressant, blocking the action of the enzymes that play a large role in the process of inflammation and inflammatory diseases. Lilly has agreed to provide the drug to the UK’s National Health Service at a discounted price.