Lilly's COVID-19 drug reduces death risk in patients on mechanical ventilation

[August 03, 2021]  (Reuters) -Eli Lilly and Co and partner Incyte Corp said on Tuesday additional results from a late-stage study showed their COVID-19 drug baricitinib reduced the risk of death in patients on mechanical ventilation.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) first approved Lilly's arthritis drug, baricitinib, in combination with Gilead Sciences' remdesivir, to treat COVID-19 patients. The FDA last month expanded the drug's authorization for lone use or with remdesivir.

Latest data from 101 patients in Lilly/Incyte's study shows patients put on ventilators, who received baricitinib plus standard of care were 46% less likely to die, compared with patients who received placebo plus standard of care.

Lilly said the new data from the study will be shared with regulatory authorities in the United States, European Union and other geographies.

(Reporting by Manojna Maddipatla in Bengaluru; Editing by Shounak Dasgupta)

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