Polycythemia vera (PV) is a type of blood cancer that causes the bone marrow to produce a high number of red blood cells (RBCs). The excess cells thicken the blood and slow its flow, which causes serious complications, including the formation of blood clots. Since its progression is slow, it’s diagnosed much later, and depending on what the tests show, an expert will recommend treatment for polycythemia vera. Jakafi® (ruxolitinib) is a commonly recommended treatment.

Function
Jakafi® (ruxolitinib) is a prescription treatment that helps manage various disorders, including PV. It is administered to control hematocrit, i.e., the percentage of red blood cell volume, and reduce spleen size in adults with PV. It blocks the body from producing growth factors that cause cells to grow and divide, resulting in complications related to the number of red blood cells produced. Ruxolitinib belongs to a class of treatment options known as kinase inhibitors. Experts often recommend ruxolitinib, as it can help alleviate symptoms triggered by PV. It has helped ease abdominal discomfort, pain under the left ribs, itching, and muscle pain in individuals with this form of cancer.

Uses
Jakafi® (ruxolitinib) is a prescription treatment approved by the FDA for adults with polycythemia vera. Before taking or refilling this prescription, affected individuals must read the information leaflet to understand how it should be taken or how it reacts with other treatment options. If one has any questions regarding this treatment method, talking to a healthcare expert about how to take the remedy is recommended. One should take Jakafi® with or without food twice a day and as directed by a healthcare professional.

Possible benefits
Jakafi® efficacy was compared with other therapies to manage PV in a clinical trial. The overall treatment for this condition was effective, provided Jakafi® kept the hematocrit levels under control while reducing the spleen size by at least 35%.

Results post-eight months of therapy
After about eight months, 23%, i.e., 25 of the 110 patients in the group who took Jakafi®, had their hematocrit levels under control. It was noted that their spleen size decreased by at least 35% compared to <1% (1 of 112) of patients in the group that received other treatment methods.

• Hematocrit portion of the primary endpoint
  Approximately 60%, i.e., 66 of 110, of patients who were taking Jakafi® had their hematocrit levels under control without phlebotomy, compared to 19%, i.e., 21 of 112, of patients in the group that received other forms of treatment.
• Spleen size portion of the primary endpoint
  Approximately 40%, i.e., 44 of 110 patients in the group who were given Jakafi®, saw at least a 35% reduction in their spleen size compared to <1%, i.e., 1 of 112 patients who received other forms of treatment.

Effect on blood count
Polycythemia vera affects not only red blood cells but also white blood cells and platelets. So, during the study, experts considered all three blood counts and whether Jakafi helped manage them. This was the secondary endpoint of the clinical trial. The results demonstrated that patients receiving Jakafi® achieved the combined goal of hematocrit (HCT) control plus white blood cell (WBC) count and platelet count within goal ranges compared with other standard forms of treatment.