Baxter and CTI BioPharma report positive myelofibrosis drug trial data

Baxter and its collaborative partner CTI BioPharma have announced positive data from a new study examining pacritinib for the treatment of patients with primary or secondary myelofibrosis.

The next-generation oral JAK2/FLT3 multikinase inhibitor has been evaluated in the PERSIST-1 trial, which met its primary endpoint by demonstrating statistically significant activity across a range of patients, irrespective of their initial platelet count.

Pacritinib treatment provided a clinically and statistically significant response rate in spleen volume reduction in patients with myelofibrosis when compared to the best available therapy, including those with very low platelet counts – a condition known as severe or life-threatening thrombocytopaenia.

This is the first phase III trial investigating the potential benefit of a JAK2 inhibitor across a patient population with myelofibrosis that is representative of patients that healthcare providers see and treat in clinical practice.

David Meek, head of oncology at Baxter BioScience, said: "We look forward to partnering with CTI BioPharma to share these results with physicians and discussing next steps with regulatory agencies."

Baxter will soon be spinning off its biopharmaceuticals division into a standalone company called Baxalta, to be based in Illinois and led by Dr Ludwig Hantson.