In patients hospitalized with COVID-19, baricitinib significantly reduced the risk of death but the size of benefit was somewhat smaller than that suggested by previous trials.

The total randomized evidence to date suggests that JAK inhibitors (chiefly baricitinib) reduce mortality in patients hospitalized for COVID-19 by about one-fifth.

Between Feb 2 and Dec 29, 2021, from 10,852 enrolled, 8,156 patients were randomly allocated to receive usual care plus baricitinib versus usual care alone.

At randomization, 95% of patients were receiving corticosteroids and 23% were receiving tocilizumab (with planned use within the next 24 h recorded for a further 9%).

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