Baricitinib Trial Shows Promise as a Steroid-Sparing Treatment for PMR

New results presented at the EULAR 2026 Congress suggest that baricitinib may help people with newly diagnosed polymyalgia rheumatica achieve remission while substantially reducing their reliance on glucocorticoids.

In the Phase 3 JAK-SPARE trial, nearly two-thirds of patients receiving baricitinib achieved glucocorticoid-free remission within 16 weeks, compared with fewer than one in five patients receiving placebo. Patients treated with baricitinib also required significantly lower cumulative steroid doses and experienced longer periods without disease relapse.

Because long-term steroid treatment remains one of the greatest challenges in PMR management, these findings are particularly encouraging. While additional studies and regulatory approvals will be required before widespread adoption, the results add to growing evidence that targeted immune therapies may help transform the treatment of PMR and reduce the burden of steroid-related side effects for many patients.