CTI BioPharma and Baxter's pacritinib meets primary endpoint in myelofibrosis trial

US biotech firm CTI BioPharma (Nasdaq: CTIC) saw its shares rise 6.4% to $2.82 on Monday, after the company, along with development partner Baxter International (NYSE: BAX), reported positive clinical trial results for their investigational drug pacritinib.

The companies reported positive top-line results for the primary endpoint from PERSIST-1, the randomized, controlled Phase III registration clinical trial examining pacritinib, a next generation oral JAK2/FLT3 multikinase inhibitor, for the treatment of patients with primary or secondary myelofibrosis. The PERSIST-1 trial met its primary endpoint in the intent-to-treat population with statistically significant activity observed in patients irrespective of their initial platelet count, including patients with very low platelet counts at study entry, a condition known as severe or life-threatening thrombocytopenia.

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