Study to Assess the Efficacy and Safety of Ruxolitinib in Patients With COVID-19 Associated Cytokine Storm

Phase 3 Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Multi-center Study to Assess the Efficacy and Safety of Ruxolitinib in Patients With COVID-19 Associated Cytokine Storm (RUXCOVID)

This was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, 29-day, multicenter study to assess the efficacy and safety of ruxolitinib + standard-of-care (SoC) therapy, compared with placebo + SoC therapy, in patients aged ≥12 years with COVID-19 disease.

This was a Phase III, multicenter, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study to assess the efficacy and safety of ruxolitinib in patients aged ≥12 years with COVID-19 disease. The study enrolled patients to ruxolitinib or placebo, in addition to standard of care (SoC) per local practice. Patients who meet the inclusion/exclusion criteria were randomized in a 2:1 ratio to either oral ruxolitinib 5 mg twice daily + SoC or oral matching-image placebo + SoC for a total of 14 days. An additional 14 days of study drug could be given if in the opinion of the investigator the patient's clinical signs and symptoms did not improve, or worsen, and the potential benefit outweighed the potential risk.

The study included:

• Screening period of 0-2 days.
• Study period of 29 days (treatment of 14 days with possible extension of treatment to 28 days).

The primary objective was to evaluate the efficacy (as measured by a composite endpoint of proportion of patients who die, develop respiratory failure [require mechanical ventilation], or require intensive care unit care) of ruxolitinib + standard-of-care (SoC) therapy compared with placebo + SoC therapy, for the treatment of COVID-19 by Day 29.

Inclusion Criteria:

Patient or guardian/health proxy must provide informed consent (and assent if applicable) before any study assessment is performed.

Male and female patients aged ≥ 12 years (or ≥ the lower age limit allowed by Health Authority and/or Ethics Committee/Institutional Review Board approvals).

Patients with coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) infection confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test or another rapid test from the respiratory tract prior to randomization.

Patients currently hospitalized or will be hospitalized prior to randomization.

Patients, who meet at least one of the below criteria:

• Pulmonary infiltrates (chest X ray or chest CT scan);
• Respiratory frequency ≥ 30/min;
• Requiring supplemental oxygen;
• Oxygen saturation ≤ 94% on room air;
• Arterial oxygen partial pressure (PaO2)/ fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO2) < 300mmHg (1mmHg=0.133kPa) (corrective formulation should be used for higher altitude regions (over 1000m).

Exclusion Criteria:

History of hypersensitivity to any drugs or metabolites of similar chemical classes as ruxolitinib.

Presence of severely impaired renal function defined by serum creatinine > 2 mg/dL (>176.8 μmol/L), or have estimated creatinine clearance < 30 ml/min measured or calculated by Cockroft Gault equation or calculated by the updated bedside Schwartz equation.

Suspected uncontrolled bacterial, fungal, viral, or other infection (besides COVID-19).

Currently intubated or intubated between screening and randomization. In intensive care unit (ICU) at time of randomization. Intubated or in ICU for COVID-19 disease prior to screening. Patients who are on anti-rejection, immunosuppressant or immunomodulatory drugs (i.e. tocilizumab, ruxolitinib, canakinumab, sarilumab, anakinra).

Unable to ingest tablets at randomization. Pregnant or nursing (lactating) women