Rovadicitinib in MF: Results of a phase Ib trial

Results from a single-arm, multicenter, open-label, phase Ib trial (NCT06388759) evaluating rovadicitinib, a first-in-class, oral Janus kinase (JAK)/Rho-associated kinase (ROCK) inhibitor, in patients with myelofibrosis (MF) who were refractory to, relapsed after, or intolerant to ruxolitinib (N = 9), were recently published in the European Journal of Pharmacology by Hong et al.

Key data: After a median rovadicitinib exposure of 12.5 months, the most common Grade ≥3 treatment-emergent adverse event was thrombocytopenia (33.3%), with no bleeding events reported. The spleen volume response rate (≥35% reduction from baseline to end of Cycle 6 [EOC6]) was 25.0%, and symptom response rate (≥50% reduction from baseline to EOC6 in total symptom score) was 37.5%. One patient permanently discontinued treatment due to severe thrombocytopenia and anemia.

Key learning: Rovadicitinib demonstrated manageable safety and efficacy in patients with MF who were refractory to, relapsed after, or intolerant to ruxolitinib, suggesting this novel JAK/ROCK inhibitor may provide a therapeutic option for this patient population.