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PACRITINIB CAP,ORAL

Clinical Criteria Summary

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Exclusion Criteria

  • Concomitant therapy with strong CYP3A4 inhibitors or inducers, moderate CYP3A4 inhibitors or inducers, sensitive substrates of CYP1A2 or CYP3A4, or sensitive substrates of P-glycoprotein, BCRP, or OCT1
  • Active bleeding
  • Uncontrolled diarrhea
  • Baseline QTc > 480 msec
  • Concomitant use of drugs with significant potential for QTc prolongation
  • Untreated hypokalemia
  • Uncontrolled active infection, including undrained abscess (may be started/restarted once the infection is controlled)
  • Moderate (Child-Pugh B) or severe (Child-Pugh C) hepatic impairment
  • Estimated GFR < 30 mL/min
  • Breastfeeding during therapy (and for 2 weeks after the last dose)

Core Inclusion Criteria

  • Primary or secondary (post-polycythemia vera or post-essential thrombocythemia) myelofibrosis
  • Prescribed and monitored by a VA / VA Community Care hematologist / oncologist or locally designated myelofibrosis expert
  • Splenomegaly by palpation (≥ 5 cm below the costal margin) or imaging
  • Obtained pretreatment complete blood count, coagulation testing (PT, PTT, TT, and INR), and ECG

Indication-Specific Requirements

  • Higher risk myelofibrosis with platelet count (PLT) < 50 × 109/L and currently not a hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) candidate
  • Higher risk myelofibrosis with PLT ≥ 50 × 109/L and currently not a HSCT candidate, after no response or loss of response to one initial Janus kinase inhibitor approved for myelofibrosis (e.g., ruxolitinib or fedratinib)
  • Symptomatic lower risk myelofibrosis after no response or loss of response to initial therapy and PLT < 50 × 109/L. Initial therapy may be a clinical trial, ruxolitinib, peginterferon alfa-2a, or hydroxyurea

Pre-treatment & Management Requirements

  • If taking another kinase inhibitor: The other kinase inhibitor has been discontinued as per its prescribing information
  • For patients who can become pregnant: Counseling provided on potential risks vs benefits of treatment and the use of effective contraception

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Indication & Patient Population

  • Treatment of adults with intermediate- or high-risk primary or secondary (post-polycythemia vera or post-essential thrombocythemia) myelofibrosis with a platelet (PLT) count below 50 × 10^9/L.
  • Accelerated approval based on spleen volume reduction; continued approval contingent upon verification of clinical benefit in a confirmatory trial.

Pretreatment Evaluations & Tests

  • Complete blood count (CBC)
  • Coagulation tests
  • Electrocardiogram (ECG)
  • Potassium level (especially in patients with a history of low blood potassium)
  • Active serious infections (delay initiation until infection has resolved)
  • Prior kinase inhibitor use (taper or discontinue before initiation)

Dosage Regimen

  • 200 mg orally twice daily with or without food.
  • Available as 100 mg capsules.
  • 400 mg once daily is not recommended due to a potentially higher risk of mortality.

Dosage Modifications & Hold Conditions

  • Planned surgical or other invasive procedures: Hold doses for 7 days prior to procedure; restart after hemostasis is regained.
  • Diarrhea, Grade 3 or 4
  • Thrombocytopenia, clinically worsening and lasting more than 7 days
  • Hemorrhage, moderate, severe or life-threatening
  • QTc Prolongation of > 500 msec or by > 60 msec from baseline

Contraindications & Avoid Use Conditions

  • Strong CYP3A4 inhibitors or inducers (contraindicated)
  • Moderate CYP3A4 inhibitors or inducers (avoid co-use)
  • Active bleeding
  • Baseline QTc > 480 msec
  • Sensitive P-gp, BCRP, or OCT1 substrates (avoid co-use)
  • Moderate (Child-Pugh B) and severe (Child-Pugh C) hepatic impairment
  • Renal impairment with eGFR < 30 mL/min
  • Lactation (avoid breastfeeding during therapy and for 2 weeks after discontinuation)

Place in Therapy

  • First-line for higher-risk primary or secondary myelofibrosis with PLT count < 50 × 10^9/L who are not hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) candidates.
  • Second-line after no response or loss of response to one prior JAK inhibitor (ruxolitinib or fedratinib) in higher-risk myelofibrosis with PLT count ≥ 50 × 10^9/L who are not HSCT candidates.
  • Second-line after no response or loss of response to initial therapy (clinical trial, ruxolitinib, peginterferon alfa-2a, or hydroxyurea) in symptomatic lower-risk myelofibrosis with PLT count < 50 × 10^9/L.

Safety & Monitoring Considerations Affecting Use

  • Monitor for diarrhea, thrombocytopenia, anemia, and peripheral edema (most common adverse events ≥20%).
  • Avoid drugs with significant QTc-prolonging effects; correct hypokalemia.
  • Assess for major adverse cardiac events (MACE), thrombosis, secondary malignancies, and risk of infection.
  • Clinical benefits require confirmation due to accelerated approval status and uncertain overall survival benefit compared to best available therapy.

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