A Study Evaluating the Efficacy and Safety of Baricitinib in Systemic Sclerosis

Systemic Sclerosis (Ssc) is a rare, systemic autoimmune disease characterized by skin fibrosis and vasculopathy. In addition to the skin, it is a heterogeneous disease that affects multiple organs, including the musculoskeletal, cardiac, pulmonary, and gastrointestinal systems. Patients may experience many symptoms such as pain, fatigue, dyspnea, impaired hand function, dry mouth, and difficulty sleeping. As a result of these symptoms, these patients may experience a decrease in activities of daily living, physical activity level and quality of life, while psychological problems such as anxiety and depression may increase.

This is a 48 weeks, prospective, double-blind, controlled study. The specific objectives of this study are to:

1. Determine whether Baricitinib is effective and safe in the treatment of patients with diffuse cutaneous (dc)SSc when compared to patients treated with CTX. In this study, stand of care of GC is permitted to use.
2. Determine whether Baricitinib is more effective than CTX, as measured by change in CRISS, which is a composite outcome measure provisionally endorsed by the ACR for scleroderma clinical trials. It incorporates change in the mRSS, FVC percent predicted, physician and patient global assessments, and HAQ-DI. Additionally, hemoglobin corrected diffusion capacity (DLCO), Medsger Severity Scale (MSS), and by other physician and patient derived outcome measures will be used.
3. Determine the biological activity of Baricitinib vs CTX as assessed by effect on histology of skin, gene expression of skin and blood, change in B-Cell profiles including assessment of B regulatory cells, and effect on serological and cutaneous biomarkers of disease activity.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

1. Diagnosis of Systematic Sclerosis (SSc), as defined using the 2013 American College of Rheumatology/ European Union League Against Rheumatism classification of SSc
2. Diffuse Systemic Sclerosis (dcSSc) as defined by LeRoy and Medsger
3. Disease duration of ≤ 36 months (defined as time from the first non-Raynaud phenomenon manifestation)
4. For disease duration of ≤ 18 months: ≥ 10 and ≤ 35 mRSS units at the screening visit
5. For disease duration of \>18-36 months: ≥ 15 and ≤ 45 mRSS units at the screening visit and one of the following:

1)Increase ≥ 3 in mRSS units compared with the last visit within previous 1-6 months 2)Involvement of one new body area with ≥ 2 mRSS units compared with the last visit within the previous 1-6 months 3)Involvement of two new body areas with ≥ 1 mRSS units compared with the last visit within the previous 1-6 months 4)Presence of 1 or more Tendon Friction Rub 6.Age ≥ 18 years at the screening visit 7.If female of childbearing potential, the patient must have a negative pregnancy test at screening and baseline visits 8.Oral corticosteroids (≤ 10 mg/day of prednisone or equivalent) and NSAIDs are permitted if the patient is on a stable dose regimen for 2 weeks prior to and including the baseline visit.

9.ACE inhibitors, calcium-channel blockers, proton-pump inhibitors, and/or oral vasodilators are permitted if the patient is on a stable dose for ≥ 2 weeks prior to and including the baseline visit.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Rheumatic disease other than dcSSc; it is acceptable to include patients with fibromyalgia and scleroderma-associated myopathy
2. Limited cutaneous systemic sclerosis or sine scleroderma at the screening visit
3. Major surgery (including joint surgery) within 8 weeks prior to screening visit
4. Infected ulcer prior to treatment
5. Treatment with any investigational agent within ≤ 4 weeks (or 5 half-lives of the investigational drug, whichever is longer) of the baseline visit
6. Previous treatment with cell-depleting therapies, including investigational agents, including but not limited to, CAMPATH, anti-CD4, anti-CD5, anti-CD3, anti-CD19, and ABA
7. Anti-CD20 within 12 months prior to baseline visit.
8. Use of Intravenous Immunoglobulin (IVIG) within 12 weeks prior to baseline visit
9. Previous treatment with chlorambucil, bone marrow transplantation, or total lymphoid irradiation
10. Immunization with a live/attenuated vaccine within ≤ 4 weeks prior to the baseline visit
11. Treatment with methotrexate, hydroxychloroquine, cyclosporine A, azathioprine, mycophenolate mofetil rapamycin, colchicine, or D-penicillamine, within≤ 4 weeks prior to the baseline visit
12. Treatment with etanercept within ≤ 2 weeks, infliximab, certolizumab, golimumab, ABA or adalimumab within ≤ 8 weeks, anakinra within ≤ 1 week prior to the baseline visit
13. Pulmonary disease with FVC ≤ 50% of predicted, or DLCO (uncorrected for hemoglobin ) ≤ 40% of predicted at the screening visit
14. Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) as determined by right heart catheterization or on PAH approved medications for PAH. It is acceptable to use PDFE-5 inhibitors for Raynaud's and digital ulcers.
15. Subjects at risk for tuberculosis (TB). Specifically excluded from this study will be participants with a history of active TB within the last 3 years, even if it was treated; a history of active TB greater than 3 years ago, unless there is documentation that the prior anti-TB treatment was appropriate in duration and type; current clinical, radiographic, or laboratory evidence of active TB; and latent TB that was not successfully treated (≥ 4 weeks).
16. Positive for hepatitis B surface antigen prior to the baseline visit
17. Positive for hepatitis C antigen, if the presence of hepatitis C virus was also shown with polymerase chain reaction or recombinant immunoblot assay prior to baseline visit
18. Subjects at risk for tuberculosis (TB). Specifically excluded from this study will be participants with a history of active TB within the last 3 years, even if it was treated; a history of active TB greater than 3 years ago, unless there is documentation that the prior anti-TB treatment was appropriate in duration and type; current clinical, radiographic, or laboratory evidence of active TB; and latent TB that was not successfully treated (≥ 4 weeks).
19. Any of the following at the screening visit: Hemoglobin \<8 g/dL; ANC \< 1,000/mm3 (\<1 x 109/L); platelets \< 100,000/mm3 (\<100 x 109/L); serum creatinine \> 2 x ULN; serum ALT or AST \> 2 x ULN
20. Severe skin thickening (mRSS 3) on the inner aspects of thighs, upper arms, or abdomen
21. Patients with a history of anaphylaxis to Baricitinib or cyclophosphamide