New drug trial aims to harden the fight against 'Hard Skin' disease

This study is testing whether a drug called baricitinib is better than the standard treatment (cyclophosphamide) at reducing skin thickening and improving symptoms in people with early, severe systemic sclerosis. It involves 60 adults who will take the assigned medication for 48 weeks while researchers measure changes in skin, lung function, and quality of life. The goal is to see if baricitinib offers a safer or more effective way to control this complex autoimmune disease.