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Ruxolitinib, a JAK inhibitor first marketed for use in myelofibrosis, is already approved for acute GVHD. The US Food and Drug Administration approved that indication last year on the basis of data from two previous trials, REACH 1 and REACH 2. The trials found that ruxolitinib was superior to best available therapy for treating patients with acute GVHD.

In the current REACH 3 study, Zeiser and colleagues compared ruxolitinib with best available therapy in 329 patients with moderate-to-severe cGVHD (both steroid dependent and steroid resistant).

Source: Medscape

Researchers from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have discovered a new inflammatory disorder called Vacuoles, E1 enzyme, X-linked, Autoinflammatory and somatic Syndrome (VEXAS), which is caused by mutations in the UBA1 gene.

VEXAS causes symptoms that included blood clots in veins, recurrent fevers, pulmonary abnormalities and vacuoles (unusual cavity-like structures) in myeloid cells.

The risk of depression is elevated in patients with cardiovascular diseases, but several specific antihypertensive therapies are associated with reduced risk, and none appear to increase the risk, according to a population-based study that evaluated 10 years of data in nearly 4 million subjects.

Agents associated with a reduced risk of depression were: two angiotensin agents, enalapril and ramipril; three calcium antagonists, amlodipine, verapamil, and verapamil combinations; and four beta-blockers, propranolol, atenolol, bisoprolol, and carvedilol.

Source: Medscape