Novartis' JUMP study reinforces safety, efficacy of Jakavi (ruxolitinib) for myelofibrosis treatment

Dec 9 2014

Novartis today announced data from the largest clinical trial of myelofibrosis patients treated with Jakavi^® (ruxolitinib), supporting the safety profile and efficacy benefit as measured in primary and secondary endpoints respectively. In an analysis of 1,144 patients treated with Jakavi to date in this ongoing expanded access study, 69% of patients achieved >50% reduction in spleen size from baseline and patients also experienced a clinically meaningful improvement in myelofibrosis symptom score, important treatment goals for patients with myelofibrosis.

Findings from the study were presented at the 56th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH) in San Francisco, California.

“Results to date from the JUMP study reinforce the critical role that Jakavi plays in the treatment of myelofibrosis, a life-threatening and debilitating blood cancer with limited treatment options,” said Haifa Kathrin Al-Ali, MD, University Hospital of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany. “These data provide insight into the real world experience of more than 1,000 patients living with myelofibrosis and further validate the safety and efficacy of Jakavi as an important treatment for myelofibrosis.”

Novartis research and development efforts, in collaboration with Incyte Corporation, include early-phase and post-marketing studies in myelofibrosis and other myeloproliferative neoplasms. More than 50 abstracts on ruxolitinib are being presented at ASH, including three oral presentations exploring combinations of ruxolitinib with various investigational compounds, evaluating the possibility of simultaneously targeting multiple cancer pathways that may be involved in the pathogenesis of myelofibrosis.

“Data presented at ASH demonstrate our ongoing commitment to the myelofibrosis community and reinforce the role of Jakavi as the current standard of care for these patients,” said Alessandro Riva, MD, Global Head, Novartis Oncology Development and Medical Affairs. “It’s exciting to see the depth of research in a rare blood cancer like myelofibrosis. Results from these studies help us to better understand and address the needs of patients and physicians.”