Novartis Plans Clinical Trial of Jakavi in Severe COVID-19 Patients

Novartis is launching a phase 3 clinical trial with Incyte to evaluate its JAK inhibitor Jakavi (ruxolitinib) to treat cytokine storm, a severe immune reaction in some COVID-19 patients.

The trial will assess Jakavi in combination with standard of care in patients with severe pneumonia as a result of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Novartis is also establishing an international compassionate use program for the drug.

Jakavi is approved in 101 countries for patients with myelofibrosis and in more than 75 countries for patients with polycythemia vera, a type of blood cancer that causes the bone marrow to make too many red blood cells.