Novartis reports positive data from rare blood cancer trial

Novartis has announced encouraging findings from Response, a phase III clinical trial assessing the benefits of its drug Jakavi in the treatment of a rare form of blood cancer.

Results from the study revealed that Jakavi was able to maintain haematocrit control without the need for phlebotomy and reduce spleen size in patients with polycythemia vera who had proven resistant to or intolerant of hydroxyurea.

It performed well compared to best available therapy, thus meeting its primary efficacy endpoint in the trial, while its safety profile was generally consistent with previous studies, based on initial review of the data.

Polycythemia vera is a chronic, incurable blood cancer associated with an overproduction of blood cells, which leads to a thickening of the blood and increased risk of blood clots.

Alessandro Riva, interim president of Novartis Oncology and global head for oncology development and medical affairs, said: "We plan to submit this data to worldwide regulatory agencies this year, as we seek to bring ruxolitinib to patients with polycythemia vera who are no longer responding to or are intolerant of prior therapy."

This comes after the firm received EU and UK approval for the use of its drug Xolair in the treatment of chronic spontaneous urticaria last week.