Indications and Usage

Jakafi® (ruxolitinib) is indicated for treatment of intermediate or high-risk myelofibrosis (MF), including primary MF, post-polycythemia vera MF and post-essential thrombocythemia MF in adults.

Jakafi is indicated for treatment of intermediate or high-risk myelofibrosis (MF), including primary MF, post-polycythemia vera MF and post-essential thrombocythemia MF in adults.

Jakafi is indicated for treatment of steroid-refractory acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) in adult and pediatric patients 12 years and older.

Jakafi is indicated for treatment of chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) after failure of one or two lines of systemic therapy in adult and pediatric patients 12 years and older.

Jakafi met the primary endpoint at week 48
  • COMFORT-II (COntrolled MyeloFibrosis study with ORal JAK inhibitor Treatment-II) was a randomized, open-label phase 3 study with 219 patients with intermediate-2–risk or high-risk myelofibrosis.1,2 The study plan included follow-up of patients receiving Jakafi through 5 years3
  • The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients achieving a ≥35% reduction in spleen volume from baseline at week 48 as measured by CT or MRI1,2
  • Best available therapy in COMFORT-II included hydroxyurea (46.6%) and glucocorticoids (16.4%), as well as no medication, anagrelide, epoetin alfa, thalidomide, lenalidomide, mercaptopurine, thioguanine, danazol, peginterferon alfa-2a, interferon-α, melphalan, acetylsalicylic acid, cytarabine, and colchicine4
  • COMFORT-II primary endpoint: At 48 weeks, 29% of patients receiving Jakafi achieved a ≥35% reduction in spleen volume vs 0% of patients receiving best available therapy (P < 0.0001)1,2
  • The 3-year overall survival analysis is presented in the Full Prescribing Information1
Important information for readers regarding the COMFORT-II 5-year data

At study completion, 26.7% of patients in the ruxolitinib arm completed 5 years of on-study treatment.3 Patients randomized to best available therapy crossed over to receive Jakafi with a median time to crossover of 17 months.1

Some of the information contained in this reprint is not included in the FDA-approved prescribing information for Jakafi:

  • The 5-year overall survival analysis comparing survival probabilities between Jakafi and best available therapy is not included in the Full Prescribing Information for Jakafi. Although the 3-year overall survival analysis is presented in the Full Prescribing Information, P values and hazard ratios are omitted from the overall survival Kaplan-Meier curves
  • COMFORT-II was not designed to compare survival probabilities between Jakafi and best available therapy at 3 or 5 years
  • Although the long-term adverse event data reported through 5 years is informative, the risk information as described in the Full Prescribing Information for Jakafi should also be considered when making prescribing decisions
  • COMFORT-II was not designed to evaluate differences in spleen volume reductions beyond the primary endpoint of 48 weeks
  • Rank-preserving structural failure time (RPSFT) is a modeling tool used to estimate the impact, if any, of crossover on the overall survival analysis. This post-hoc analysis is exploratory
  • Change in allele burden was an exploratory analysis in COMFORT-II. The prognostic and clinical relevance of changes in allele burden in myelofibrosis has not been established
  • Change in bone marrow fibrosis was a secondary endpoint in COMFORT-II. The prognostic and clinical relevance of changes in bone marrow fibrosis in myelofibrosis has not been established
Important Safety Information
  • Treatment with Jakafi® (ruxolitinib) can cause thrombocytopenia, anemia and neutropenia, which are each dose-related effects. Perform a pre-treatment complete blood count (CBC) and monitor CBCs every 2 to 4 weeks until doses are stabilized, and then as clinically indicated
  • Manage thrombocytopenia by reducing the dose or temporarily interrupting Jakafi. Platelet transfusions may be necessary
  • Patients developing anemia may require blood transfusions and/or dose modifications of Jakafi
  • Severe neutropenia (ANC <0.5 × 109/L) was generally reversible by withholding Jakafi until recovery
  • Serious bacterial, mycobacterial, fungal and viral infections have occurred. Delay starting Jakafi until active serious infections have resolved. Observe patients receiving Jakafi for signs and symptoms of infection and manage promptly. Use active surveillance and prophylactic antibiotics according to clinical guidelines
  • Tuberculosis (TB) infection has been reported. Observe patients taking Jakafi for signs and symptoms of active TB and manage promptly. Prior to initiating Jakafi, evaluate patients for TB risk factors and test those at higher risk for latent infection. Consult a physician with expertise in the treatment of TB before starting Jakafi in patients with evidence of active or latent TB. Continuation of Jakafi during treatment of active TB should be based on the overall risk-benefit determination
  • Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) has occurred with Jakafi treatment. If PML is suspected, stop Jakafi and evaluate
  • Herpes zoster infection has been reported in patients receiving Jakafi. Advise patients about early signs and symptoms of herpes zoster and to seek early treatment. Herpes simplex virus reactivation and/or dissemination has been reported in patients receiving Jakafi. Monitor patients for the development of herpes simplex infections. If a patient develops evidence of dissemination of herpes simplex, consider interrupting treatment with Jakafi; patients should be promptly treated and monitored according to clinical guidelines
  • Increases in hepatitis B viral load with or without associated elevations in alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase have been reported in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections. Monitor and treat patients with chronic HBV infection according to clinical guidelines
  • When discontinuing Jakafi, myeloproliferative neoplasm-related symptoms may return within one week. After discontinuation, some patients with myelofibrosis have experienced fever, respiratory distress, hypotension, DIC, or multi-organ failure. If any of these occur after discontinuation or while tapering Jakafi, evaluate and treat any intercurrent illness and consider restarting or increasing the dose of Jakafi. Instruct patients not to interrupt or discontinue Jakafi without consulting their physician. When discontinuing or interrupting Jakafi for reasons other than thrombocytopenia or neutropenia, consider gradual tapering rather than abrupt discontinuation
  • Non-melanoma skin cancers (NMSC) including basal cell, squamous cell, and Merkel cell carcinoma have occurred. Perform periodic skin examinations
  • Treatment with Jakafi has been associated with increases in total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglycerides. Assess lipid parameters 8-12 weeks after initiating Jakafi. Monitor and treat according to clinical guidelines for the management of hyperlipidemia
  • Another JAK-inhibitor has increased the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), including cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, and stroke (compared to those treated with tumor TNF blockers) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, a condition for which Jakafi is not indicated. Consider the benefits and risks for the individual patient prior to initiating or continuing therapy with Jakafi particularly in patients who are current or past smokers and patients with other cardiovascular risk factors. Patients should be informed about the symptoms of serious cardiovascular events and the steps to take if they occur
  • Another JAK-inhibitor has increased the risk of thrombosis, including deep venous thrombosis (DVT), pulmonary embolism (PE), and arterial thrombosis (compared to those treated with TNF blockers) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, a condition for which Jakafi is not indicated. In patients with myelofibrosis (MF) and polycythemia vera (PV) treated with Jakafi in clinical trials, the rates of thromboembolic events were similar in Jakafi and control treated patients. Patients with symptoms of thrombosis should be promptly evaluated and treated appropriately
  • Another JAK-inhibitor has increased the risk of lymphoma and other malignancies excluding NMSC (compared to those treated with TNF blockers) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, a condition for which Jakafi is not indicated. Patients who are current or past smokers are at additional increased risk. Consider the benefits and risks for the individual patient prior to initiating or continuing therapy with Jakafi, particularly in patients with a known secondary malignancy (other than a successfully treated NMSC), patients who develop a malignancy, and patients who are current or past smokers
  • In myelofibrosis and polycythemia vera, the most common nonhematologic adverse reactions (incidence ≥15%) were bruising, dizziness, headache, and diarrhea. In acute graft-versus-host disease, the most common nonhematologic adverse reactions (incidence >50%) were infections (pathogen not specified) and edema. In chronic graft-versus-host disease, the most common nonhematologic adverse reactions (incidence >20%) were infections (pathogen not specified) and viral infections
  • Avoid concomitant use with fluconazole doses greater than 200 mg. Dose modifications may be required when administering Jakafi with fluconazole doses of 200 mg or less, or with strong CYP3A4 inhibitors, or in patients with renal or hepatic impairment. Patients should be closely monitored and the dose titrated based on safety and efficacy
  • Use of Jakafi during pregnancy is not recommended and should only be used if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus. Women taking Jakafi should not breastfeed during treatment and for 2 weeks after the final dose

Please click here to see Full Prescribing Information for Jakafi.

Please see hcp.jakafi.com for more information and educational resources.

Financial disclosures

The COMFORT-II study was supported by Incyte Corporation and partners.

The authors of this publication disclosed the following related to Incyte Corporation and Novartis:

During the conduct of the study, Drs Jones and Sun were employees of Incyte Corporation, and Drs McQuitty, Gopalakrishna, and Stalbovskaya were employees of Novartis.

Drs Al-Ali, Cervantes, Gisslinger, Harrison, Kiladjian, and Vannucchi reported financial interests from Incyte Corporation or Novartis. Additional conflict of interest information is included in the enclosed reprint.

See the Supplementary Appendix for a complete list of investigators and study sites in this trial.

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References: 1. Jakafi Prescribing Information. Wilmington, DE: Incyte Corporation. 2. Harrison C, Kiladjian J-J, Al-Ali HK, et al. JAK inhibition with ruxolitinib versus best available therapy for myelofibrosis. N Engl J Med. 2012;366(9):787-798. 3. Harrison CN, Vannucchi AM, Kiladjian J-J, et al. Long-term findings from COMFORT-II, a phase 3 study of ruxolitinib vs best available therapy for myelofibrosis. Leukemia. 2016;30(8):1701-1707. 4. Data on file. Incyte Corporation. Wilmington, DE.
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  • Indications and Usage / Important Safety Information