Eli Lilly and Company Incyte Corporation announced that a baricitinib showed success in two late studies of baricitinib for the treatment of adult patients with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis, a serious skin disease.
Lilly is based in Indianapolis. Incyte is headquartered near Wilmington.
In trials compared to patients treated with placebo, a statistically significant proportion of patients treated with baricitinib achieved a score of clear or almost clear skin.
The studies are part of a group of five that will be used in efforts to bring the drug to market.
Side effects were similar to placebo.
“Atopic dermatitis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease that can negatively impact the quality of life for patients, and unfortunately there are limited treatment options, particularly oral medications,” said Lotus Mallbris, M.D., Ph.D., vice president of immunology development at Lilly. “We are encouraged that baricitinib met the primary endpoints in these two studies, and look forward to seeing the collective results of all five studies.”
Baricitinib is approved for the treatment of adults with moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis in more than 50 countries, including the U.S.
