Baricitinib for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis

Abstract
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a prevalent inflammatory condition that impacts health, disability, and the economy. Traditional treatment approaches for RA focus on anti-inflammatory medications and targeting specific molecules like tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and interleukin 6 (IL-6). Baricitinib, a novel oral medication approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), is taken once daily and has shown effectiveness when used alongside existing treatments, leading to a significant reduction in symptoms with a favorable safety profile. However, additional research is necessary to identify rare side effects and assess its long-term effectiveness in managing the disease and alleviating symptoms. This review synthesizes current literature on baricitinib as a treatment for RA. It covers updates on RA’s pathophysiology, diagnosis, and conventional treatments, followed by an introduction to baricitinib and the evidence supporting its use for RA. The review also discusses clinical trials confirming baricitinib’s efficacy for this condition.