Comparing ruxolitinib with hydroxycarbamide or interferon in polycythemia vera

Trial details

Who runs it

University of Birmingham

Trial code

NCT04116502

Record updated

26 October 2026

Original description

The trial will be a phase III, randomised-controlled, multi-centre, international, open-label trial consisting of ruxolitinib versus best available therapy, where best available therapy is a choice of interferon alpha, any formulation permitted (IFN) or hydroxycarbamide (HC), and which will be elected by the Investigator prior to randomisation.Read full original descriptionShow less

A Phase III, Randomised, Open-label, Multicenter International Trial Comparing Ruxolitinib With Either HydRoxycarbamIDe or Interferon Alpha as First Line ThErapy for High Risk Polycythemia Vera

The trial will be a phase III, randomised-controlled, multi-centre, international, open-label trial consisting of ruxolitinib versus best available therapy, where best available therapy is a choice of interferon alpha, any formulation permitted (IFN) or hydroxycarbamide (HC), and which will be elected by the Investigator prior to randomisation.

Inclusion: Patient ≥18 years of age; Diagnosis of PV meeting the WHO criteria within the past 15 years; Meets criteria of high risk* PV (see above for specific population); Patients must have a screening haemoglobin of >8g/dl; Patients may have received antiplatelet agents and venesection; Patients may have received ONE cytoreductive therapy for PV less than 10 years (BUT they should not be resistant or intolerant to that therapy); Able to provide written informed consent.

Exclusion: Diagnosis of PV > 15 years previously; Treatment with >1 cytoreductive therapy OR a cytoreductive treatment duration exceeding 10 years OR resistance/intolerance to that therapy; Pregnant or lactating patients (Women of childbearing potential must have a negative urine or blood Human Chorionic Gonadotropin pregnancy test prior to trial entry); Patients and partners not prepared to adopt highly effective contraception measures (if sexually active) whilst on treatment and for at least 6 months after completion of study medication; Previous treatment with ruxolitinib; Active infection including Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), hepatitis B, hepatitis C, autoimmune hepatitis, Tuberculosis; Patients with uncontrolled neuropsychiatric disorders; Patients with uncontrolled cutaneous cancers; Uncontrolled rapid or paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, uncontrolled or unstable angina, recent (within the last 6 months) myocardial infarction or acute coronary syndrome or any clinically significant cardiac disease > NYHA ( New York Heart Association) Class II; Persons under psychiatric care that would impede understanding of informed consent and optimal treatment and follow-up; Patients with lactose allergies, hypersensitivities, or rare hereditary problems, of galactose intolerance, total lactase deficiency or glucose- galactose malabsorption; Previous (within the last 12 months) or current platelet count <100 x 109/L or neutrophil count < 1 x 109/L not due to therapy; Inadequate liver function as defined by ALT/AST >2.0 x ULN; Inadequate renal function as defined by eGFR < 30 mls/min; Absence of JAK-2 mutation; Patients with any contraindications to any of the investigational medical products; ECOG Performance Status Score ≥ 3; Patients who have transformed to myelofibrosis; Unable to give informed consent; Additional Exclusion Criteria for France Only; All women of childbearing potential (as per Appendix 8 definition); No affiliation with the French healthcare system; Adults subject to a legal protection measure (guardianship, curatorship and safeguard of justice); Patients deprived of their liberty by a judicial or administrative decision.

Population:; High risk PV defined as WBC >11 x 10\^9/l* AND at least ONE of the following; Age >60 years; Prior thrombosis or haemorrhage; Platelet count >1000 x 10\^9/l*; Hypertension or diabetes requiring pharmacological therapy (*At any time since diagnosis).

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04116502