Incyte leaps on ruxolitinib pancreatic cancer data

Incyte Corp. (NASDAQ:INCY) jumped $9.05 (34%) to $36.05 on Wednesday after reporting that ruxolitinib plus capecitabine significantly improved the primary endpoint of overall survival (OS) vs. capecitabine plus placebo in a pre-specified subgroup of patients in the Phase II RECAP trial to treat recurrent or refractory pancreatic cancer (hazard ratio=0.47, p=0.005). The subgroup comprised patients identified as likely to benefit from Janus kinase (JAK) pathway inhibition. In the subgroup, ruxolitinib plus capecitabine led to a six-month survival rate of 42% vs. 11% for capecitabine plus placebo.

Incyte declined to disclose how it defined the subgroup population, which represented about 50% of the trial population, but noted the patients could be identified without a companion diagnostic. Ruxolitinib plus capecitabine non-significantly improved OS vs. capecitabine plus placebo in the 127 patients in the intent-to-treat (ITT) population of the trial (hazard ratio=0.79, p=0.12). Incyte said the trial was not powered for significance. The company plans to start Phase III testing in the subgroup in 1H14. ...