Choosing Itacitinib for GVHD Prophylaxis: Insights From Popat
Uday R. Popat, MD, discusses the rationale behind evaluating itacitinib over other JAK inhibitors for graft-vs-host disease prophylaxis in a phase 2 study.
Uday R. Popat, MD, professor of medicine in the Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, Division of Cancer Medicine at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, discusses why he and his fellow researchers chose to evaluate the JAK inhibitor itacitinib (INCB039110) over other JAK inhibitors for graft-vs-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis in a phase 2 study that was presented on at the 2025 Transplant and Cellular Therapy Meetings.
In the phase 2 trial, experts sought to assess the use of the JAK inhibitor itacitinib when combined with post-transplant cyclophosphamide (PTCy) and tacrolimus to prevent GVHD in patients undergoing a myeloablative fractionated busulfan regimen.
According to Popat, itacitinib was selected for evaluation in this study due to its lack of hematopoiesis or myelosuppression seen in in vitro models. During transplant, donor grafts require stem cell engraftment and blood count recovery, making low myelotoxicity critical.
Because of itacitinib’s minimal myelotoxic profile, experts believe that the agent offers significant potential value, aligning with the need for safe, effective agents in transplantation. As a result, itacitinib was chosen for evaluation in this phase 2 study.
Transcription:
0:10 | So, we looked at itacitinib. Firstly, because in in vitro models, it did not cause any suppression of hematopoiesis or myelosuppression. Now, in transplant [and] during transplant, we have given donor graft, and we are allowing the stem cells to engraft and blood counts to recover.
0:38 | So, [it is] an agent with low myelotoxicity [that] has a significant potential value. [This] is why we chose this particular agent.
