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news.Novartis' investigational drug, Jakavi, has demonstrated improvement in overall survival of myelofibrosis patients with continuation of spleen size reductions compared to conventional therapy.
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Reducing the risk of death by 52% in a three-year follow-up analysis of the COMFORT-II study, Jakavi was well tolerated and impacted an underlying mechanism of disease and improved symptoms irrespective of JAK mutational status, disease subtype or any prior treatment.
A separate study analysis indicated that the long-term treatment with Jakavi may stabilize or improve bone marrow fibrosis that is believed to be responsible for disease worsening.
Consistent with earlier COMFORT-II and COMFORT-I study analyses, the results demonstrated Jakavi’s efficacy in offering significant clinical benefits against conventional therapy and placebo for myelofibrosis patients.
University of Florence, hematology department and lead study author Dr. Alessandro Vannucchi said the latest study results support that the rapid, positive effects of Jakavi in improving patients’ symptoms are sustained over the long-term.
Novartis Oncology oncology development and medical affairs global head Alessandro Riva said, "These data are of great interest because bone marrow transplantation, which carries a high risk of morbidity and mortality, is the only other option proven to impact bone marrow fibrosis in patients with advanced myelofibrosis."