Cell Therapeutics, Inc. (CTI) (Nasdaq and MTA: CTIC) today announced that the Company has initiated clinical trial sites and began enrolling patients in a Phase 3 clinical trial, known as PERSIST-1 or PAC325, for pacritinib, CTI's investigational JAK2 inhibitor, which is being evaluated for the treatment of patients with myelofibrosis. The randomized trial is expected to enroll 270 patients and will evaluate the safety and efficacy of pacritinib compared to best available therapy, excluding JAK inhibitors, in patients with myelofibrosis. Pacritinib is a selective oral JAK2 inhibitor that demonstrated meaningful clinical benefits and good tolerability in myelofibrosis patients in Phase 2 clinical trials, without apparent drug-related thrombocytopenia or anemia. Myelofibrosis patients will be enrolled in the PERSIST-1 trial without exclusion for low platelet counts.
Principal Investigators for the trial are Ruben A. Mesa , M.D., Deputy Director, Mayo Clinic Cancer Center and Chair, Hematology and Medical Oncology, Mayo Clinic in Arizona, and Claire Harrison , M.D., Consultant Hematologist, Guy's and St. Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, Guy's Hospital, London, United Kingdom.
"Current treatment of myelofibrosis by targeting JAK2 inhibition has been shown to be effective in managing the debilitating symptoms that are associated with this disease, although thrombocytopenia and anemia continue to be a challenge in managing this disease," said Steven E. Benner , M.D., Chief Medical Officer of CTI. "Data from earlier studies of pacritinib showed a clinically meaningful improvement in symptoms without suppression of platelets or red blood cells. We believe that pacritinib has the potential to offer an effective and well-tolerated treatment option for myelofibrosis patients, and are pleased to be initiating the Phase 3 PERSIST-1 clinical trial."
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