Novartis receives EU approval for new blood cancer drug

Novartis Pharmaceuticals has announced that it has received approval from the European Commission for the use of a new drug it has developed to help treat a rare type of blood cancer.

Jakavi – or to give it its scientific name, ruxolitinib – has been approved by the EU for treating adults diagnosed with polycythemia vera (PV), which is a condition involving overproduction of blood cells and can potentially lead to serious heart problems unless adequately treated.

Novartis' new drug is primarily aimed at patients who are resistant to hydroxyurea, as this has been proven to be effective at treating the same illness, yet around 25 per cent of individuals with PV do not respond to it.

This means that Jakavi, which works by increasing a person's haematocrit (red blood cell count), is a welcome alternative.

Dr Claire Harrison, a consultant haematologist at Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust who helped in testing the drug, explained: "Jakavi will fill an unmet need as the first treatment shown to significantly improve haematocrit, as well as symptom control and reduce spleen size in patients with PV."