Ruxolitinib for Emergency Treatment of COVID‐19–Associated Cytokine Storm: Findings From an Expanded Access Study

ABSTRACT Introduction This expanded access program (EAP) provided ruxolitinib (oral, selective Janus kinase [JAK]1/JAK2 inhibitor) for emergency treatment of COVID‐19–associated cytokine storm in patients eligible for hospitalization (NCT04355793). Methods Patients received ruxolitinib 5 mg twice da...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Jeffrey Weinstein, Nikhil Jagan, Shawnta Lorthridge‐Jackson, J. E. Hamer‐Maansson, Peg Squier
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-04-01
Series:The Clinical Respiratory Journal
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1111/crj.70050
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Summary:ABSTRACT Introduction This expanded access program (EAP) provided ruxolitinib (oral, selective Janus kinase [JAK]1/JAK2 inhibitor) for emergency treatment of COVID‐19–associated cytokine storm in patients eligible for hospitalization (NCT04355793). Methods Patients received ruxolitinib 5 mg twice daily (preferred regimen when tolerated) or once daily for ≤ 14 days, or until determination of no clinical benefit was made. Outcomes were clinical status, physician‐assessed clinical benefit, and serious adverse event (SAE) incidence. Results Of 312 patients, 45.5% achieved ≥ 1‐point clinical status improvement. Physician‐assessed clinical benefit was reported in 42.6% of evaluable patients. SAEs occurred in 42.9%, with 2.6% experiencing an SAE suspected to be ruxolitinib related. Conclusions Overall, some hospitalized patients with COVID‐19–associated cytokine storm who received ruxolitinib experienced clinical status improvement; ruxolitinib was well tolerated. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT04355793
ISSN:1752-6981
1752-699X