Olumiant (baricitinib) vs Lagevrio (molnupiravir)

Olumiant (baricitinib) is an oral Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor that is primarily used to treat moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis and has also been authorized for emergency use to treat COVID-19 in hospitalized adults requiring supplemental oxygen. Lagevrio (molnupiravir), on the other hand, is an oral antiviral medication specifically designed to treat mild to moderate COVID-19 in adults who are at risk for developing severe illness and for whom alternative COVID-19 treatment options are not accessible or clinically appropriate. When deciding between these medications, it is important to consider the specific condition being treated, as Olumiant is not primarily an antiviral drug and is used in a different context compared to Lagevrio, which is targeted at early-stage COVID-19 to prevent disease progression.

Difference between Olumiant and Lagevrio

Metric	Olumiant (baricitinib)	Lagevrio (molnupiravir)
Generic name	Baricitinib	Molnupiravir
Indications	Rheumatoid arthritis, COVID-19 (under Emergency Use Authorization)	Treatment of mild to moderate COVID-19 in adults with positive results of direct SARS-CoV-2 viral testing, and who are at high risk for progression to severe COVID-19, including hospitalization or death
Mechanism of action	Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor, which interferes with the JAK-STAT signaling pathway that plays a role in the immune response	Oral antiviral that induces viral mutagenesis by incorporating into viral RNA and causing an accumulation of errors in the viral genome leading to a decrease in replication
Brand names	Olumiant	Lagevrio
Administrative route	Oral	Oral
Side effects	Upper respiratory tract infections, nausea, headache, high blood pressure	Diarrhea, nausea, dizziness
Contraindications	Severe renal impairment, active serious infections, hypersensitivity to baricitinib	Hypersensitivity to molnupiravir, risk of fetal harm when administered to pregnant individuals
Drug class	Janus kinase inhibitor	Antiviral
Manufacturer	Eli Lilly and Company	Merck & Co. (known as MSD outside the US and Canada)

Efficacy

Efficacy of Olumiant (Baricitinib) for COVID-19

Olumiant (baricitinib) is an oral medication that was originally approved for the treatment of moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis. However, during the COVID-19 pandemic, it has been repurposed and granted an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of COVID-19 in certain hospitalized adults and pediatric patients. The efficacy of baricitinib in treating COVID-19 stems from its anti-inflammatory properties as a Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor, which can modulate the immune response that is often overactive in severe cases of COVID-19.

Studies have shown that when used in combination with the antiviral drug remdesivir, baricitinib can reduce recovery time and improve clinical outcomes in hospitalized patients with COVID-19. The ACTT-2 trial, a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, demonstrated that the combination of baricitinib and remdesivir was superior to remdesivir alone in reducing recovery time and accelerating improvement in clinical status among hospitalized patients with COVID-19, particularly among those receiving high-flow oxygen or non-invasive ventilation.

Efficacy of Lagevrio (Molnupiravir) for COVID-19

Lagevrio (molnupiravir) is an antiviral medication that has been authorized for emergency use by the FDA for the treatment of mild to moderate COVID-19 in adults who are at risk for progressing to severe COVID-19 and/or hospitalization. Molnupiravir works by introducing errors into the SARS-CoV-2 virus's RNA, ultimately inhibiting its ability to replicate. This mechanism of action is thought to help reduce the viral load in patients, thereby potentially mitigating the severity of the disease.

The efficacy of molnupiravir was evaluated in a clinical trial known as MOVe-OUT, which was a phase 3, randomized, placebo-controlled study. The results indicated that molnupiravir reduced the risk of hospitalization or death by approximately 30% among patients with mild to moderate COVID-19 who were at risk for severe disease. However, it is important to note that subsequent analyses and real-world data are required to fully understand the long-term efficacy and safety profile of molnupiravir, as well as its role in the evolving landscape of COVID-19 treatment, particularly with the emergence of new variants of the virus.

Regulatory Agency Approvals

Olumiant

European Medical Agency (EMA), European Union
Food and Drug Administration (FDA), USA
Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), Australia

Lagevrio

European Medical Agency (EMA), European Union
Food and Drug Administration (FDA), USA
Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), Australia
Medicines & Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), United Kingdom

Access Olumiant or Lagevrio today

If Olumiant or Lagevrio are not approved or available in your country (e.g. due to supply issues), you can access them via Everyone.org.

Buy Olumiant

Buy Lagevrio

How it works

Make an enquiry

Choose the medicine you want to buy, answer a couple of questions, and upload your prescription to speed things up. We’ll get back to you within 24 hours.

Breeze through the paperwork

We'll guide you through the required documents for importing unapproved medicine, ensuring you have all the necessary information.

Get a personalized quote

We’ll prepare a quote for you, including medicine costs and any shipping, administrative, or import fees that may apply.

Receive your medicine

Accept the quote and we’ll handle the rest - sourcing and safely delivering your medicine.

Some text on this page has been automatically generated. Speak to your physician before you start a new treatment or medication.

Let's talk

If you have any questions, call us or send us a message through WhatsApp or email: