MAJIC trial – using Ruxolitinib

An exciting new study starting June 2012

A new trial is starting very soon using the JAK inhibitor Ruxolitinib this study, so-called MAJIC, will be open in lots of centres in the UK and we hope to reach some patients via MPD Voice.  

We have previously covered the benefits of Ruxolitinib for patients with myelofibrosis.  Now we want to move forward and test this drug in patients with polycythaemia vera (PV) and essential thrombocythaemia (ET).  This is a very exciting opportunity to test this drug in a real setting and compare it to everyday therapies.

Ruxolitinib is a tablet which is very well tolerated, it reduces and controls blood counts very well and also can help greatly with symptoms of MPD such as itching, weight loss and sweating.  We are looking to test the drug compared with standard treatments in ET and PV patients who are not getting good control of their disease, e.g. too high platelet count or still need venesections or have had a blood clot despite treatment with hydroxycarbamide (hydrea). Patients getting side effects from hydroxycarbamide like mouth or leg ulcers will also be eligible.  Plus you won’t need to have had these problems right now, you could have had them a while ago. 

The study will last for 5 years and will be carried out at between 25 and 30 centres in the UK.  It will start in June 2012 and 290 patients will be recruited.  Centres so far are Belfast City Hospital, University Hospital Wales, Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre, Guy’s and St Thomas’, Hammersmith, St James, Leeds, The Royal Liverpool, The Christie, Nottingham City, Churchill Hospital Oxford, Queen Elizabeth Birmingham, Southampton General, Addenbrookes, Gloucester Royal, Northwick Park, Dorset County, Leicester Royal Infirmary, Castle Hill Hospital, Royal Free Hospital, Royal Bournemouth and Arrowe Park Hospital.  More hospitals will be signed up soon.   A full list of participating centres is available here…

The study is partly funded by Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research who fund a TAP initiative (therapy acceleration programme) which aims to bring treatments to patients faster, it is the first study in this programme.  If you would like to participate in this trial please speak to your haematologist or email us at info@mpdvoice.org.uk.