Baricitinib

Information about Baricitinib

Baricitinib

Baricitinib is an orally available small molecule inhibitor of Janus kinases that is used to treat moderate-to-severe rheumatoid arthritis.

Liver safety of Baricitinib

Baricitinib is associated with transient and usually mild elevations in serum aminotransferase levels during therapy but has yet to be linked to cases of clinically apparent acute liver injury.

Mechanism of action of Baricitinib

Baricitinib (bar" i sye' ti nib) is an orally available, specific inhibitor Janus-associated kinases (mainly JAK1 and JAK2) that is used to treat moderate-to-severe rheumatoid arthritis. The Janus kinases are critical steps in immune activation as well as in hematopoiesis. The immunomodulatory effects of baricitinib have led to its evaluation in several autoimmune conditions including rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis. In multiple randomized controlled trials, baricitinib was found to improve symptoms and signs of severe rheumatoid arthritis when used alone or in combination with other disease modifying anti-rheumatologic drugs (DMARDs).

FDA approval information for Baricitinib

Baricitinib was approved for use in the United States in 2018, the third small molecule JAK inhibitor to receive approval (after tofacitinib in 2012 and ruxolitinib in 2011).

Current indications are limited to moderate-to-severe rheumatoid arthritis after failure or intolerance to anti-tumor necrosis factor agents with or without non-biological DMARDs. Baricitinib is also under evaluation as therapy of for other autoimmune conditions including psoriasis and atopic dermatitis. Baricitinib is available in tablets of 2 mg under the brand name Olumiant.

Dosage and administration for Baricitinib

The recommended dose is 2 mg once daily.

Side effects of Baricitinib

Common side effects are nausea, diarrhea, fatigue, neutropenia, cholesterol and creatinine elevations, herpes simplex and zoster infections, and symptoms of upper respiratory tract infection. Severe adverse events may include severe infections, reactivation of latent tuberculosis, increased risk of malignancy, gastrointestinal perforation and vascular thromboses.

• Dailymed label info on Baricitinib
• FDA Baricitinib

Antirheumatic Agents

• Gold Preparations

• • Auranofin, Gold salts, Gold sodium thiomalate

• Interleukin receptor antagonists

• • Anakinira, Canakinumab, Rilonacept, Sarilumab, Tocilizumab

• Major immunosuppressive agents

• • Cyclosporine, Mycophenylate, Sirolimus, Tacrolimus

• Monoclonal antibodies

• • Adalimumab, Canakinumab, Certolizumab, Golimumab, Infliximab, Rituximab, Sarilumab, Tocilizumab, Ustekinumab

• Thiopurines

• • Azathioprine, Mercaptopurine, Thioguanine

• Tumor necrosis factor antagonists

• • Adalimumab, Certolizumab, Etanercept, Golimumab, Infliximab

• Tyrosine kinase inhibitors

• • Baricitinib, Tofacitinib

• Miscellaneous

• • Abatacept, Flavocoxid, Hydroxychloroquine, Leflunomide, Methotrexate, Penicillamine