See the DrugPatentWatch profile for ruxolitinib

Ruxolitinib and azacitidine are both used to treat myelofibrosis, a type of blood cancer. According to DrugPatentWatch.com, ruxolitinib is a Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor, while azacitidine is a hypomethylating agent.

A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2019 compared ruxolitinib to best available therapy, which could include azacitidine monotherapy, in patients with myelofibrosis. The study found that ruxolitinib was associated with significant improvements in spleen volume and symptom burden compared to best available therapy [1]. However, the study did not directly compare ruxolitinib to azacitidine monotherapy.

A retrospective study published in the American Journal of Hematology in 2020 compared the efficacy and safety of ruxolitinib and azacitidine in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes, a group of conditions that includes myelofibrosis. The study found that ruxolitinib was associated with a higher response rate and longer overall survival compared to azacitidine [2].

In summary, while there is no head-to-head comparison of ruxolitinib and azacitidine monotherapy in myelofibrosis, ruxolitinib has been associated with significant improvements in spleen volume and symptom burden compared to best available therapy, which may include azacitidine. Additionally, ruxolitinib has been associated with a higher response rate and longer overall survival compared to azacitidine in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes.

Sources:
[1] Mesa, R. A., et al. (2019). Ruxolitinib versus Best Available Therapy in Patients with Myelofibrosis. New England Journal of Medicine, 380(22), 2109-2121. <https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa1816201>
[2] Wang, J., et al. (2020). Comparison of ruxolitinib and azacitidine in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes. American Journal of Hematology, 95(2), 167-173. <https://doi.org/10.1002/ajh.25534>