Ruxolitinib: in the treatment of myelofibrosis.

Article Details

Citation

Yang LP, Keating GM

Ruxolitinib: in the treatment of myelofibrosis.

Drugs. 2012 Nov 12;72(16):2117-27. doi: 10.2165/11209340-000000000-00000.

PubMed ID
23061804 [ View in PubMed
]
Abstract

Ruxolitinib is a selective inhibitor of Janus kinases (JAK) 1 and 2, which are involved in the signalling pathway of various cytokines and growth factors essential to haematopoiesis. JAK 1 and 2 are implicated in the development of myelofibrosis, as well as other haematological malignancies. Ruxolitinib is the first agent approved for the treatment of myelofibrosis. In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre trial (COMFORT-I) in patients with myelofibrosis, significantly more ruxolitinib than placebo recipients achieved a >/= 35% reduction in spleen volume (primary endpoint) at 24 weeks. In a randomized, open-label, multicentre trial (COMFORT-II) in patients with myelofibrosis, significantly more ruxolitinib than best available therapy recipients achieved the same primary endpoint at 48 weeks. Significantly more ruxolitinib than placebo recipients achieved a >/= 50% reduction in Total Symptom Score at 24 weeks in COMFORT-I. Ruxolitinib generally improved health-related quality-of-life scores, while best available therapy was generally associated with worsened scores at 48 weeks in COMFORT-II. In COMFORT-I, overall survival data appeared to favour ruxolitinib over placebo; of note, most placebo recipients had crossed over to receive ruxolitinib. In COMFORT-II, a significant difference in overall survival between ruxolitinib and best available therapy was not shown; this trial was not powered to detect such a difference. In clinical trials in patients with myelofibrosis, ruxolitinib was generally associated with an acceptable tolerability profile. In the placebo-controlled trial, the most commonly reported grade 3 or 4 adverse events in ruxolitinib recipients were thrombocytopenia, anaemia and neutropenia. These haematological adverse events were mainly managed with dosage interruptions/reductions and/or transfusions, and rarely resulted in discontinuation.

DrugBank Data that Cites this Article

Drugs
Drug Targets
DrugTargetKindOrganismPharmacological ActionActions
RuxolitinibNon-receptor tyrosine-protein kinase TYK2ProteinHumans
Yes
Inhibitor
Details
RuxolitinibTyrosine-protein kinase JAK1ProteinHumans
Yes
Inhibitor
Details
RuxolitinibTyrosine-protein kinase JAK2ProteinHumans
Yes
Inhibitor
Details
RuxolitinibTyrosine-protein kinase JAK3ProteinHumans
Yes
Inhibitor
Details
Drug Enzymes
DrugEnzymeKindOrganismPharmacological ActionActions
RuxolitinibCytochrome P450 3A4ProteinHumans
Unknown
Substrate
Details