(ANSA) - GROSSETO, NOV 17 - Steps forward in the fight against Coronavirus also on the pharmacological front: the results obtained from the first phase of experimentation of the study, which started last March, dedicated to investigating the effects of Baricitinib, are positive and bode well. drug of the family of Jak inhibitors with anti-inflammatory effects and indicated for rheumatoid arthritis, in the treatment of Covid patients.
The study was carried out at the Misericordia hospital in Grosseto, together with San Donato in Arezzo, and in the hospitals of Pisa, Prato and Albacete in Spain, on a group of 131 Covid patients, from mild to more severe form.
The study was promoted by Fabio Lena, the director of the Pharmaceutical Department of the South East Tuscany Local Health Authority and the director of the Misericordia hospital pharmacy Gianluca Lacerenza.
In Grosseto, in particular, the experimentation was carried out on 25 patients hospitalized in the medium intensity area of the Covid bubble which includes the Infectious Diseases department directed by Cesira Nencioni, and that of Pneumology, directed by Antonello Perrella.
"The results achieved show that Baricitinib - declares Nencioni - has effective efficacy even as an antiviral, with an important clinical impact on patients treated by inhibiting the evolution of the disease, and reducing the risk of having to resort to invasive mechanical ventilation. benefit from pharmacological treatment, so much so that there was a 71% reduction in mortality risk, and in the specific Grosseto group important clinical improvements in 84% of patients ".
According to Nencioni, "the treatment was safe and well tolerated, however, patients candidates for the use of the drug must have precise criteria".
The Tuscan and Spanish working group was coordinated by Professor Justin Stebbing, a researcher from Imperial College London.
The results were published in the scientific journal Science Advance.
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