Baricitnib for GVHD – pro
Baricitinib, sold under the brand name Olumiant among others, is a medication used for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, alopecia areata, and COVID-19. It acts as an inhibitor of Janus kinase, blocking the subtypes JAK1 and JAK2. A number of recent studies suggest that it is effective for GVHD.
It is in an active clinical trial: Baricitinib for the Prevention of Graft Versus Host Disease in Patients with Hematological Malignancies after Peripheral Blood Donor Stem Cell Transplantation. This phase I trial studies how well baricitinib works in preventing graft versus host disease in patients with hematological malignancies (blood cancers) after undergoing a peripheral blood donor stem cell transplantation. One of the side effects of a stem cell transplant is the development of graft versus host disease (GVHD). GVHD occurs when some of the cells from the donor attack the recipient’s tissues, resulting in mild, moderate, or even life-threatening side effects to the recipient’s skin, stomach, intestine, and liver. Baricitinib may stop the growth of cancer cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth and prevent or lessen the effects of GVHD in patients with hematological malignancies.
Kidist Ashami, et al, Baricitinib Prevents and Treats GvHD through Both Immune Modulation and Enhancement of Tissue Repair. Blood (2018) 132 (Supplement 1): 3311.
Kidist Ashami, BA, Blocking JAK1/JAK2 While Sparing JAK3 Not Only Prevents GvHD but Also Promotes Damaged Tissue Repair. Blood (2019) 134 (Supplement_1): 4420.