EBMT 2023 | The impact of early ruxolitinib treatment on OS in the COMFORT-I and COMFORT-II studies

We recently made a post-hoc analysis of the patients enrolled in the two COMFORT studies. COMFORT-I and COMFORT-II to see whether starting treatment early improves the outcome. We analyze the patients according to their diagnosis before starting treatment, before 12 months, shorter than 12 months, or after 12 months, one year after the diagnosis. Indeed, we could demonstrate that overall survival was significantly improved among patients who initiated ruxolitinib earlier, around 63% compared to around 50% in patients who started later. So, a better survival if you start treatment soon. It makes sense because patients have less disease burden, often the JAK2 mutation is less elevated, and they have less symptoms. Starting early the treatment, when necessary, of course, is probably associated with a better outcome. So, we don’t need to wait too long because patients may progress if you don’t treat them too late, and then starting early the treatment, may improve the outcome.