RA is a chronic, inflammatory disease that can be effectively managed with long-term treatment options.

Study Design 

This study consisted of a pooled analysis of 9 phase III/II/Ib studies and 1 long-term extension study of patients who received any baricitinib dose. Investigators estimated standardized incidence ratios for malignancy (excluding non-melanoma skin cancer) and standardized mortality ratios. An additional analysis was performed on a subset of patients who had ever taken 2 mg or 4 mg baricitinib.

Results and Conclusions

The study included 3770 patients who received baricitinib. For patients who received any baricitinib dose, the incidence rate of adverse events per 100 patient years of exposure were 2.6, 3.0 and 0.5 for serious infections, herpes zoster, and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), respectively.  The incidence rate for malignancy during the first 48 weeks was 0.6, remaining stable thereafter. Investigators did not observe any dose-dependent differences for exposure-adjusted incidence rates for deaths, serious infections, DVT/PE, and MACE. 

Related Research

Consider these findings from similar research studies:

• Baricitinib once a day inhibits joint damage progression in patients with moderate-to-severe RA who are naive disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (Source). 

• Baricitinib treatment was effective and well-tolerated for up to 3 years in patients with active RA (Source).