Lilly’s Olumiant receives EU approval

Lilly has received approval from the European Commission for its rheumatoid arthritis therapy Olumiant, which has been developed in conjunction with experts from fellow pharmaceutical firm Incyte.

Olumiant contains baricitinib and is designed to be used in combination with methotrexate or on its own in patients diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis but who have not responded well to other disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs.

Trials involving Olumiant have demonstrated its efficacy compared to Humira (adalimumab), which is another drug often prescribed alongside methotrexate.

Olumiant was found to help ease the debilitating symptoms that can be associated with rheumatoid arthritis, including severe joint pain. As a result, the drug has the potential to improve quality of life for thousands of people across Europe, with US approval still pending.

J Anthony Ware, senior vice-president for product development and interim president at Lilly, commented: "We believe that as a next-generation therapy in the EU, Olumiant will advance [rheumatoid arthritis] treatment by helping patients with moderate-to-severe disease feel better quickly."

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