Phase III success for CTI's pacritinib, but second study crucial

A statistically significant percentage of myelofibrosis patients treated with CTI BioPharma's pacritinib in the Phase III PERSIST-1 clinical trial had a 35% or greater reduction in spleen size versus best available therapy, including particularly large decreases for individuals who are unlikely to be treated effectively with the competing Incyte and Novartis Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor Jakafi (ruxolitinib).

PERSIST-1 enrolled 327 patients with myelofibrosis regardless of platelet count levels, but the JAK2 and FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT-3)...