Dr. Cortes on the Benefit of Ruxolitinib in MPNs

Jorge E. Cortes, MD, director of the Georgia Cancer Center at Augusta University, discusses the benefits of ruxolitinib (Jakafi) in patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs).

Ruxolitinib is a very effective option for patients with myelofibrosis, particularly those who are very symptomatic or have a large spleen, says Cortes. Ruxolitinib is not known to change the natural history of the disease nor does it completely eliminate it; thus, it only benefits the specific subsets of patients who are extremely symptomatic or have large spleens, Cortes reiterates. However, many patients fall under these categories, adds Cortes.

Additionally, ruxolitinib has received regulatory approval for patients with polycythemia vera and essential thrombocythemia who do not respond to initial lines of therapy. Limited therapeutic options are available in this space; thus, ruxolitinib serves as an important option for those patient populations, concludes Cortes.