Benzinga | Mar 18, 2021 04:31PM EDT

Incyte Announces Phase 3 DEVENT Study Evaluating Ruxolitinib In COVID-19 Associated Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome Did Not Meet Primary Endpoint

- Improvement in mortality for each dose compared to placebo, while trending toward positive, was not statistically significant for the overall study population

- Significant improvement in mortality seen in U.S. study participants at both doses, and in the overall population when data from both treatment arms was pooled

- Expanded Access Program to allow eligible patients in the United States with COVID-19 associated ARDS to receive ruxolitinib will be discussed with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration

WILMINGTON, Del.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Incyte (NASDAQ:INCY) today announced results from the Phase 3 DEVENT study evaluating the efficacy and safety of ruxolitinib (5mg and 15mg) plus standard of care (SoC) versus SoC in patients on mechanical ventilation with COVID-19 associated Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), a type of respiratory failure characterized by rapid onset of widespread inflammation in the lungs.

While results indicate a trend towards an improvement in mortality in the overall study population (N=211), the DEVENT study did not meet its primary endpoint--mortality due to any cause through day 29--adjusted for ARDS severity between the two treatment arms versus placebo (55.2% vs. 74.3% [Odds Ratio (OR): 0.42 (95% CI: 0.171-1.023)], P=0.0280 in the 5mg arm and 51.8% vs. 69.6% [OR: 0.46 (95% CI: 0.201-1.028)], P=0.0292 in the 15mg arm). In the U.S. study population (N=191), which accounts for the majority (91%) of the DEVENT study patients, there was a clinically and statistically significant improvement in mortality in each of the 5mg (46.7% vs. 69.1% [OR: 0.39 (95% CI: 0.157-0.948)], P=0.0189) and 15mg treatment arms (47.1% vs. 66.7% [OR: 0.43 (95% CI: 0.188-0.974)], P=0.0215) versus placebo, respectively. Additionally, a post-hoc analysis of the overall study population pooling both the 5mg and 15mg ruxolitinib arms together versus placebo, showed a statistically significant improvement in mortality (53.6% vs. 70.7% [OR: 0.47 (95% CI: 0.219-0.996)], P=0.0244). More than half of study patients (55%) received remdesivir and 90% of study patients received corticosteroids prior to or during the study.

The safety profile was generally consistent with hospitalized patients with COVID-19 and consistent with treatment with ruxolitinib. The most common adverse events on the ruxolitinib arms, regardless of dose, compared to placebo were anemia (20.7% vs. 22.2%), increased alanine aminotransferase (ALT, 14.6% vs. 13.3%), increased aspartate transaminase (AST, 14.0% vs. 8.9%) and hypertension (11.6% vs. 11.1%), respectively.

"There remains a significant unmet medical need for treatments that may potentially improve survival outcomes for patients suffering from severe COVID-19 related complications, specifically those requiring mechanical ventilation," said Steven Stein, M.D., Chief Medical Officer, Incyte. "We hope the results of this study, and the potential utility of ruxolitinib for treatment of patients with severe COVID-19 associated ARDS, will contribute to the advances being made across the scientific community to alleviate the burden this pandemic has placed on patients, as well as the healthcare system. We look forward to discussing the results of the DEVENT study with regulatory authorities in the United States."

Given the urgent nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, Incyte plans to make ruxolitinib available to eligible patients in the United States at no cost via an Expanded Access Program (EAP) pending agreement with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The protocol will allow eligible patients with severe COVID-19 associated ARDS with disease severity requiring mechanical ventilation to receive ruxolitinib.

At present, there is ample commercial and clinical supply of ruxolitinib in the United States to meet the needs of U.S. patients receiving ruxolitinib in its approved indications and those participating in clinical trials or the COVID-19 EAP.

For more information about Incyte's response to COVID-19, including information on the DEVENT study and EAP, visit: Incyte.com/COVID-19.