Specifically, ruxolitinib phosphate - which is the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) manufactured by reputable drug makers - has been shown to effectively treat myelofibrosis and polycythemia vera when other therapies have failed or are not well-tolerated.
What Conditions is it Used For?
Ruxolitinib phosphate tablets, sold under the brand name Jakafi, work by inhibiting Janus-associated kinases (JAKs). Thismodulation of the JAK-STAT signaling pathway has anti-inflammatory and antifibrotic effects.
It is prescribed as a treatment option for patients with:
- Primary myelofibrosis (MF): reduces spleen size and MF-related symptoms
- Post-polycythemia vera MF or post-essential thrombocythemia MF: improves splenomegaly and symptoms
- Polycythemia vera (PV): helps control PV by reducing red blood cell counts
How Does it Work?
Ruxolitinib phosphate selectively inhibits JAK1 and JAK2 - these kinases are involved in cytokine and growth factor signaling. By blocking their actions, it decreases inflammation and slows aberrant cell growth in MF and PV. Specifically, it halts overproduction of platelets and red cells by inhibiting JAK-STAT pathways in the bone marrow that promote these cell lines.
Dosage and Administration
The typical starting dosage is 15-20mg twice daily orally for MF and 10-25mg twice daily orally for PV. Dosages are then adjusted based on therapeutic response and tolerability up to a maximum of 25mg twice daily. It is available as 5mg, 10mg, 15mg, 20mg and 25mg tablets containing the ruxolitinib phosphate salt form sourced from reputable drug manufacturers.
Ruxolitinib treatment provides an important new option for managing chronic myeloproliferative neoplasms in patients where other therapies have failed or cannot be used. It works by specifically targeting the molecular mechanisms driving these conditions.
