Demographics, Baseline Characteristics, and Disease Symptom Burden in RESPONSE-2: A Randomized, Phase 3 Study of Ruxolitinib in Polycythemia Vera Patients (pts) Who Are Resistant to or Intolerant of Hydroxyurea (HU)

BACKGROUND: Polycythemia vera (PV) is characterized by increased red cell mass often associated with elevated leukocyte and platelet counts, splenomegaly and significant symptom burden. In the RESPONSE study, which only enrolled PV patients with splenomegaly, ruxolitinib (Rux) demonstrated superior improvements in hematocrit (HCT) control and reductions in spleen volume compared with best available therapy (BAT) in pts who were resistant to or intolerant of HU. Supportive data included clinically meaningful improvements in PV-related symptom burden and quality of life (QOL) measures. Here, we describe the baseline (BL) characteristics and symptom burden of PV pts resistant to or intolerant of HU enrolled in the RESPONSE-2 study, which unlike RESPONSE, enrolled PV patients with a nonpalpable spleen.