BRIEF—Jakavi wins UK funding for rare blood cancer

Final guidance from the UK’s health technology assessor recommends that the country’s national healthcare provider fund Jakavi (ruxolitinib) in polycythaemia vera (PV).

The positive reimbursement outcome means that the therapy, offered by Swiss cancer giant Novartis (NOVN: VXX), will be routinely available for eligible patients in England and Wales.

Each year, over 1,000 people in the UK are diagnosed with PV, a rare and incurable blood cancer associated with an overproduction of blood cells in the bone marrow.

Sales of Jakavi fell slightly in dollar terms last year, bringing in around $1.6 billion for the company.

The product is sold outside the USA under license from Incyte. Within America, it is marketed as Jakafi.