Swiss drug maker Novartis AG (NVS) Sunday said a Phase III three-year follow-up study showed that Jakavi (ruxolitinib) demonstrated improved overall survival in myelofibrosis patients and sustained reductions in spleen size compared to conventional therapy.
In a separate long-term exploratory analysis, Jakavi slowed or stabilized the advance of bone marrow fibrosis, one of the underlying disease mechanisms and consequences of myelofibrosis, a rare blood cancer. This is an effect not been observed with conventional therapy in advanced myelofibrosis patients.
Findings are being presented at the 18th Congress of European Hematology Association in Stockholm, Sweden.
In a three-year follow-up analysis of the Comfort-II study, patients treated with Jakavi demonstrated an overall survival advantage compared to patients receiving conventional therapy. A 52 percent reduction in risk of death was observed in the Jakavi arm compared with conventional therapy.
The estimated probability of overall survival was significantly greater with Jakavi compared to conventional therapy at 144 weeks.
Additionally, 51.4 percent of patients treated with Jakavi achieved a 35 percent reduction from baseline in spleen size and patients continue to maintain their spleen response. The median spleen reduction is not yet reached in the study.
The results are consistent with previous Comfort-II and Comfort-I study analyses, which demonstrated that Jakavi provides significant clinical benefits over conventional therapy and placebo for patients suffering from myelofibrosis.
The stock closed marginally lower in Zurich on Friday at 66.90 Swiss francs.
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June 05, 2026 16:18 ET A busy week for economic news flow saw a slew of reports being released that reflected the trends in the U.S. labor market. In Europe, economic growth and inflation data gained attention as the European Central Bank and Bank of England head for policy session later in the month. In Asia, the monetary policy session of the Indian central bank was in focus as the country, a major oil importer, reels under the pressures of a weaker rupee and rising inflation.