https://www.futuremedicine.com/doi/10.2217/imt-2020-0153

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

JAK inhibitors are usually used to help people who may be affected by rheumatism, which is an autoimmune disease. They are known as DMARDs. People who have rheumatism, their medications usually consist of immunosuppressants which cause a higher infectious risk, leading to concerns of several diseases. Interestingly, people who are taking medications with JAK inhibitors are not experiencing this issue with COVID-19. No data suggests that patients with rheumatic diseases are at an increased risk for COVID-19 compared to the general population. Medications such as Baricitinib and Xeljanz (generic name Tofacitinib) which have JAK inhibitors in them are, predicted to block SARS-CoV-2 receptor-mediated endocytosis into pulmonary epithelial cells. An open-label study with 12 patients with oral baricitinib added to ritonavir/lopinavir therapy showed promising results as all patients improved at 2 weeks and required no ICU admission.


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