PAXIS: A Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Dose-finding Phase 2 Study (Part 1) Followed by an Open-label Period (Part 2) to Assess the Efficacy and Safety of Pacritinib in Patients With VEXAS Syndrome
This study is to assess the effectiveness and safety of pacritinib in patients with VEXAS (i.e., Vacuoles in myeloid progenitors, E1 ubiquitin-activating enzyme, X-linked, autoinflammatory manifestations, and somatic) syndrome. 78 patients will be enrolled, randomized to either pacritinib dose A, pacritinib dose B + placebo, or placebo. Randomization will be stratified by prescribed GC dose on the day of randomization.
• Documented evidence of a pathogenic mutation at methionine-41 (M41) or neighboring splice site mutation (c.118-1, c.118-2) position in UBA1 mutation based on myeloid next-generation sequencing (NGS) droplet digital polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR), or Sanger sequencing in peripheral blood or bone marrow samples.
• Current or documented evidence of past involvement within 6 months prior to enrollment of at least one of the following organ systems by VEXAS syndrome: cutaneous (e.g., neutrophilic dermatosis, cutaneous vasculitis), vasculature (e.g., vasculitis), musculoskeletal (e.g., chondritis, arthritis), ocular (e.g., uveitis, scleritis), periorbital (e.g. periorbital edema), genitourinary (e.g., epididymitis), or pulmonary (e.g., alveolitis).
• Receiving ongoing GC therapy (stable prednisone or prednisolone dose of 15-45 mg/day) leading up to enrollment. Note that patients who are stable on GC doses of 10-14 mg/day in addition to another non-GC anti-inflammatory therapy at Screening who have a previously documented VEXAS flare on a GC dose \>=10mg/day may be eligible provided that their GC dose is escalated to 15-45 mg/day after washout.
• Karnofsky Performance Status ≥50%
• Adequate organ function, meeting all the following criteria within 30 days prior to enrollment:
‣ Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ≤3 × upper limit of normal (ULN)
⁃ Total bilirubin ≤4 × ULN (≤8 × ULN in the setting of Gilbert's syndrome)
⁃ Creatinine clearance (CrCl) ≥30 mL/min based on the Cockcroft-Gault formula
⁃ Absolute neutrophil count ≥500/μL
⁃ Prothrombin time (PT) or international normalized ratio (INR) ≤1.5 × ULN (unless prolonged due to therapeutic anticoagulation)
⁃ Partial thromboplastic time (PTT) or activated PTT ≤1.5 × ULN (unless prolonged due to therapeutic anticoagulation)
⁃ Platelet count ≥25 × 10\^9/L
⁃ Peripheral blasts \<5%
• Women of child-bearing potential (WOCBP) must have a negative serum pregnancy test within 30 days prior to enrollment and a negative urine pregnancy test on Day 1 prior to randomization and dosing.
• WOCBP and male patients must agree to use a highly effective method of contraception starting at the first dose of study therapy through 90 days after the last dose of study therapy.