Latest Data for Baricitinib and Ixekizumab to be Presented at Upcoming Conference

The latest data on safety and long-term efficacy from the baricitinib (Olumiant) clinical trials will be presented in 21 abstracts—–including 1 oral presentation––at the upcoming Annual European Congress of Rheumatology (EULAR) in Madrid.

Baricitinib is indicated to treat adults with moderate-to-severe rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who had an inadequate or intolerant response to 1 or more disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs. It can be used as a monotherapy or in combination with methotrexate, according to a press release.

The most common adverse events (AEs) from baricitinib were increased LDL cholesterol, upper respiratory tract infections, and nausea. Reported infections with treatment included Herpes zoster.

Baricitinib was approved in February 2017 for the treatment of adults with moderate-to-severe RA in the European Union.

Six abstracts examining ixekizumab (Taltz) for the treatment of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) will also be presented at the conference, including 2 oral presentations that highlight data from the phase 3 SPIRIT-P1 and SPIRIT-P2 studies.

Taltz is indicated to treat adults with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis who are candidates for phototherapy or systemic therapy.

AEs for Taltz include injection site reactions, upper respiratory tract infections, nausea, and tinea infections.

Lilly will also present 2 abstracts from ongoing research seeking to gain a better understanding of rheumatologic diseases, according to the release. One abstract focuses on the relationship between the degree of skin involvement and joint activity in patients with PsA based on data from the Corrona registry.

The second abstract is regarding the symptomology, disease status, and remission rate of non-radiographic axial spondylarthritis and ankylosing spondylitis in patients in Europe.

“Rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and psoriasis are chronic, debilitating diseases that significantly impact the physical wellbeing of millions of people worldwide, many of whom are not currently achieving their treatment goals with existing therapies,” J. Anthony Ware, MD, senior vice president, product development, Lilly Bio-Medicines, said in a release. “We are excited to present new data for Olumiant and Taltz at EULAR 2017, all of which highlight our commitment to the ongoing research and development of innovative therapies for people living with these immune-mediated diseases.”