Baricitinib plus remdesivir shows promise in COVID-19 patients

Combining the anti-inflammatory drug baricitinib with the antiviral drug remdesivir reduced the median recovery time for hospitalized COVID-19 patients from eight to seven days, according to clinical trial results published in the New England Journal of Medicine. The therapy appeared to benefit patients requiring high-flow oxygen or non-invasive ventilation most, reducing their median time to recovery from 18 days to 10 days, researchers said. The Food and Drug Administration last month authorized the emergency use of baricitinib in combination with remdesivir to treat suspected or laboratory confirmed COVID-19 in certain hospitalized patients requiring supplemental oxygen, invasive mechanical ventilation or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. (AHA News article, 11/23/20)