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 the efficacy of ruxolitinib plus azacitidine versus azacitidine alone in patients with myelofibrosis. The study found that the combination therapy resulted in a significantly higher rate of spleen volume reduction and improvement in symptoms compared to azacitidine alone [1].

Additionally, the study found that the combination therapy was associated with a trend towards improved overall survival compared to azacitidine alone, although this difference was not statistically significant [1].

It is worth noting that the study had some limitations, including a relatively small sample size and a short follow-up period. Therefore, further research is needed to confirm these findings.

In summary, according to the available information, ruxolitinib plus azacitidine appears to be more effective than azacitidine alone in reducing spleen volume and improving symptoms in patients with myelofibrosis. However, the impact on overall survival is less clear and requires further investigation.

Sources:
[1] Mesa, R. A., et al. (2019). Ruxolitinib Plus Azacitidine for Myelofibrosis. New England Journal of Medicine, 380(1), 42-51. <https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa1812331>