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AI Identifies Potential COVID-19 Drug
1 Nov
Summary
- AI platform identified baricitinib as potential COVID-19 treatment.
- Baricitinib, an approved arthritis drug, enters late-stage trials.
- Results from trials expected within two months.
A London-based company leveraging AI for drug discovery has pinpointed baricitinib as a potential therapeutic for COVID-19. This compound, already approved for rheumatoid arthritis, is now advancing to late-stage phase 3 clinical trials.
BenevolentAI utilized its AI platform to identify baricitinib, focusing on inhibiting cellular processes exploited by the virus. The drug possesses both anti-viral and anti-inflammatory properties, making it a candidate for mitigating severe COVID-19 complications.
Eli Lilly and the US National Institute for Allergies and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) are collaborating on a randomized trial to assess baricitinib's efficacy and safety. This study, commencing in the US and expanding to Europe and Asia, expects results within two months.
Research published in The Lancet and Lancet Infectious Diseases supported baricitinib's potential. Investigator-led studies have already begun, with this new trial marking a significant step in evaluating its impact on COVID-19 patients.
