Eli Lilly has announced to begin clinical trials of rheumatoid arthritis drug Olumiant to treat COVID-19 patients.
The company plans to explore the anti-inflammatory responses that were witnessed in rheumatoid arthritis patients, and how the drug – Olumiant – an oral JAK1/JAK2 inhibitor – might help in curing COVID-19. The trial would be conducted in collaboration with the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID).
The decision of the company might have been influenced by the anecdotal evidence that showed anti-inflammatory drugs such as Gilead’s Remdesiver and Roche’s Actemra have the potential to treat COVID-19 patients.
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