BACKGROUND Ruxolitinib, a selective JAK1 and JAK2 inhibitor, has clinically significant activity in myelofibrosis. METHODS In a double-blind trial, patients with intermediate-2 or high-risk myelofibrosis were randomized to twice-daily oral ruxolitinib (n=155) or placebo (n=154). The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients with ≥35% spleen volume reduction at 24 weeks assessed by magnetic resonance imaging. Secondary endpoints included durability of response, changes in symptom burden (assessed by Total Symptom Score [TSS]), and overall survival. RESULTS In the ruxolitinib group, 41.9% achieved the primary endpoint versus 0.7% in the placebo group (P<0.001). Spleen response was maintained while taking ruxolitinib: 67% of responding patients maintained response for ≥48 weeks. A ≥50% improvement in TSS at 24 weeks was achieved by 45.9% of ruxolitinib-treated versus 5.3% of placebo-treated patients (P<0.001). Thirteen deaths occurred in the ruxolitinib and 24 in the placebo group (hazard ratio, 0.50; 95% CI, 0.25–0.98; P=0.04). Discontinuations for adverse events were similar between groups (11% each). Among ruxolitinib-treated patients, anemia and thrombocytopenia were the most common adverse events, but rarely led to discontinuation (1 patient for each event). Two patients underwent transformation to acute myeloid leukemia (AML), both in the ruxolitinib group. CONCLUSIONS Ruxolitinib provided significant clinical benefits in patients with myelofibrosis by reducing spleen size, improving debilitating myelofibrosis-related symptoms, and improving overall survival. Improvement came at a cost of more frequent anemia and thrombocytopenia in the early part of the treatment period. The imbalance in AML transformation requires attention in further studies. (Funded by Incyte Corporation; ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT00952289)

OBJECTIVE11-β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11βHSD1) converts inactive cortisone into active cortisol, thereby amplifying intracellular glucocorticoid action. The efficacy and safety of the 11βHSD1 inhibitor INCB13739 were assessed when added to ongoing metformin monotherapy in patients with type 2 diabetes exhibiting inadequate glycemic control (A1C 7–11%).RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODSThis double-blind placebo-controlled paralleled study randomized 302 patients with type 2 diabetes (mean A1C 8.3%) on metformin monotherapy (mean 1.5 g/day) to receive one of five INCB13739 doses or placebo once daily for 12 weeks. The primary end point was the change in A1C at study end. Other end points included changes in fasting glucose, lipids, weight, adverse events, and safety.RESULTSAfter 12 weeks, 200 mg of INCB13739 resulted in significant reductions in A1C (−0.6%), fasting plasma glucose (−24 mg/dl), and homeostasis model assessment–insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) (−24%) compared with placebo. Total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides were all significantly decreased in hyperlipidemic patients. Body weight decreased relative to placebo after INCB13739 therapy. A reversible dose-dependent elevation in adrenocorticotrophic hormone, generally within the normal reference range, was observed. Basal cortisol homeostasis, testosterone in men, and free androgen index in women were unchanged by INCB13739. Adverse events were similar across all treatment groups.CONCLUSIONSINCB13739 added to ongoing metformin therapy was efficacious and well tolerated in patients with type 2 diabetes who had inadequate glycemic control with metformin alone. 11βHSD1 inhibition offers a new potential approach to control glucose and cardiovascular risk factors in type 2 diabetes.

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BackgroundMyelofibrosis (MF) is associated with a variety of burdensome symptoms and reduced survival compared with age-/sex-matched controls. This analysis evaluated the long-term survival benefit with ruxolitinib, a Janus kinase (JAK)1/JAK2 inhibitor, in patients with intermediate-2 (int-2) or high-risk MF.MethodsThis was an exploratory analysis of 5-year data pooled from the phase 3 COMFORT-I and -II trials. In both trials, patients could cross over to ruxolitinib from the control group (COMFORT-I, placebo; COMFORT-II, best available therapy). All continuing patients in the control groups crossed over to ruxolitinib by the 3-year follow-up. Overall survival (OS; a secondary endpoint in both trials) was evaluated using pooled intent-to-treat data from patients randomized to ruxolitinib or the control groups. OS was also evaluated in subgroups stratified by baseline anemia and transfusion status at week 24.ResultsA total of 528 patients were included in this analysis; 301 were originally randomized to ruxolitinib (COMFORT-I, n = 155; COMFORT-II, n = 146) and 227 to control (n = 154 and n = 73, respectively). The risk of death was reduced by 30% among patients randomized to ruxolitinib compared with patients in the control group (median OS, 5.3 vs 3.8 years, respectively; hazard ratio [HR], 0.70 [95% CI, 0.54–0.91]; P = 0.0065). After correcting for crossover using a rank-preserving structural failure time (RPSFT) method, the OS advantage was more pronounced for patients who were originally randomized to ruxolitinib compared with patients who crossed over from control to ruxolitinib (median OS, 5.3 vs 2.3 years; HR [ruxolitinib vs RPSFT], 0.35 [95% CI, 0.23–0.59]). An analysis of OS censoring patients at the time of crossover also demonstrated that ruxolitinib prolonged OS compared with control (median OS, 5.3 vs 2.4 years; HR [ruxolitinib vs censored at crossover], 0.53 [95% CI, 0.36–0.78]; P = 0.0013). The survival benefit with ruxolitinib was observed irrespective of baseline anemia status or transfusion requirements at week 24.ConclusionsThese findings support ruxolitinib treatment for patients with int-2 or high-risk MF, regardless of anemia or transfusion status. Further analyses will be important for exploring ruxolitinib earlier in the disease course to assess the effect on the natural history of MF.Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov identifiers, NCT00952289 and NCT00934544.

Correspondence: sverstov@mdanderson.orgCOMFORT-I is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of the Janus kinase 1/Janus kinase 2 inhibitor ruxolitinib in 309 patients with intermediate-2 or high-risk myelofibrosis. This analysis of COMFORT-I describes the long-term efficacy and safety of ruxolitinib (median follow-up, 2 years). Spleen volume was measured by magnetic resonance imaging, and quality of life was evaluated using the EORTC QLQ-C30. Overall survival was determined according to randomized treatment group. At the time of this analysis, 100 of 155 patients randomized to ruxolitinib were still receiving treatment. All patients randomized to placebo crossed over to ruxolitinib or discontinued within 3 months of the primary analysis (median time to crossover, 41 weeks). Mean spleen volume reductions in the ruxolitinib group were 31.6% at week 24 and 34.9% at week 96; improvements in quality of life measures were also maintained. Improved survival was observed for ruxolitinib (n=27 deaths) versus placebo (n=41 deaths) (hazard ratio=0.58; 95% confidence interval: 0.36, 0.95; P=0.03). The incidence of new-onset grade 3 or 4 anemia and thrombocytopenia decreased over time to levels observed in patients receiving placebo. These data indicate that ruxolitinib treatment provides durable reductions in spleen volume and improvements in quality of life and suggest a continued survival advantage for ruxolitinib over placebo. 8 These studies compared ruxolitinib treatment with placebo and best available therapy, respectively, and both achieved their primary endpoint: significantly more patients receiving ruxolitinib experienced a ≥35% reduction in spleen volume from baseline as measured by magnetic resonance imaging or computed tomography at week 24 in COMFORT-I and at week 48 in COMFORT-II. In addition, ruxolitinib was superior to placebo and best available therapy in improving myelofibrosis-related symptoms and measures of quality of life. Improved survival for patients treated with ruxolitinib over placebo was also observed at a median follow-up of 51 weeks [hazard ratio (HR)=0.50; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.25, 0.98; P=0.04). 7 The objective of the current analysis was to describe the longer-term outcomes associated with ruxolitinib treatment in COMFORT-I, with 1 year of additional follow-up beyond previously published data. Efficacy, safety and survival with ruxolitinib in patients with myelofibrosis: results of a median 2-year follow-up of COMFORT-I Methods PatientsThe inclusion and exclusion criteria for COMFORT-1 have been described elsewhere.7 Briefly, eligible patients were ≥18 years of age and had primary myelofibrosis, post-polycythemia vera myelofibrosis or post-essential thrombocythemia myelofibrosis according to the 2008 World Health Organization criteria 1 and intermediate-2 or high-risk myelofibrosis as determined by the International Prognostic Scoring System. 3The protocol was approved by the institutional review board at each participating site. The study was conducted in accordance...