Data on Incyte's Jakafi - Analyst Blog

Incyte Corporation INCY announced full results from the phase III RECAP study on Jakafi in combination with Roche's (RHHBY) Xeloda (capecitabine). Results were presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).

The RECAP study evaluated Jakafi in combination with Xeloda in patients suffering from second-line metastatic pancreatic cancer. Results from the study revealed that the combination of Jakafi and Xeloda prolonged overall survival in patients with elevated C-reactive protein CRP compared to Xeloda alone.

Moreover, patients under the combination therapy achieved improvements in other efficacy measures like objective response rate, clinical benefit response, and weight gain. The study results also showed that the combined treatment of Jakafi and Xeloda was well tolerated.

Jakafi, Incyte's sole marketed product, was launched in the U.S. in Nov 2011, for treating patients suffering from intermediate or high-risk myelofibrosis (MF). Jakafi contributed around $69.7 million to Incyte's top line in the first quarter 2014, representing an increase of 44% from the year-ago quarter.

Incyte has a collaborative agreement with Novartis NVS to market Jakafi outside the U.S. The drug has also been approved by the European Commission to treat adults suffering from primary MF, post-polycythemia vera MF or post-essential thrombocythemia MF.

Jakafi is also being studied for additional indications. Incyte, in collaboration with Novartis, is currently evaluating Jakafi in two phase III clinical trials (RESPONSE and RELIEF), for the treatment of patients suffering from polycythemia vera (PV). The company intends to submit a supplemental new drug application for Jakafi for the PV indication soon based on the positive results from the RESPONSE trial.

We are encouraged by Incyte's progress with Jakafi. The success of Jakafi is crucial for the company. We expect investor focus to remain on Jakafi's performance in the coming quarters.

Incyte, a biopharmaceutical company, currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Some better-ranked stocks in the sector include Gilead Sciences Inc. GILD. The stock holds a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).

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