JAKAHDI - JAK inhibitors in acquired hemophagocytic syndrome in the ICU

2023-504513-77-00 Protocol APHP220919 Therapeutic exploratory (Phase II) Ongoing, recruiting

Start 16 Sep 2024 · Status Ongoing, recruiting · 1 EU/EEA countries · 9 sites · Protocol APHP220919

Overview

Sponsor-declared trial summary

Phase Therapeutic exploratory (Phase II)
Status Ongoing, recruiting
Participants planned 42
Countries 1
Sites 9

Adult patients older than 18 years. Patients admitted to the participating ICUs will be included in this study if the meet eligibility criteria.

To demonstrate that ruxolitinib, in association with standard of care, may reverse organ failure (as represented by SOFA score) better than standard of care alone in critically ill patients with acquired HS.

Key facts

Sponsor
Assistance Publique Hopitaux De Paris
Participant type
Patients
Age range
18-64 years, 65+ years
Gender
Male and Female
Therapeutic area
Diseases [C] - Hemic and Lymphatic Diseases [C15]
Trial duration
16 Sep 2024 → ongoing
Decision date (initial)
2023-10-10
Transition trial
No
Low-intervention
No
Rare-disease indication
No
Vulnerable population
Yes
Funding sources
Ministry of Health - PHRC-K22185

Trial design

CTIS Part I — objectives, methods, condition coding

Main objective

Scope: Therapy

To demonstrate that ruxolitinib, in association with standard of care, may reverse organ failure (as represented by SOFA score) better than standard of care alone in critically ill patients with acquired HS.

Secondary objectives 4

  1. - To demonstrate that ruxolitinib may improve overall survival in HS critically ill patients
  2. - To demonstrate that ruxolitinib may reverse clinical (temperature, SOFA score) and biological (ferritin level, CD25 soluble receptor dosage, fibrinogen level, triglycerides level, hemoglobin level, white blood cells count, platelets count) manifestations related to HS
  3. - To analyse the impact of ruxolitinib on biological inflammatory markers (IL2, IL6, IL10, IL12, GM-CSF, IFN gamma, TNF alpha)
  4. - To demonstrate the safety of ruxolitinib in critically ill HS patients

Conditions and MedDRA coding

Adult patients older than 18 years. Patients admitted to the participating ICUs will be included in this study if the meet eligibility criteria.

VersionLevelCodeTermSystem organ class
21.1 LLT 10058125 Haemophagocytic syndrome 10021428

Study design 1 period

#TitleAllocationBlindingRoles blindedArms
1 JAKAHDI - JAK inhibitor in Acquired Hemophagocytic synDrome in the Intensive care unit
Haemophagocytic syndrome (HS) is a rare condition that can be responsible for severe organ failure. Therapeutic recommendations are mainly based on observational studies and expert opinions: no therapeutic progress has been developed for years, explaining why mortality in HS remains high (mortality in intensive care ranging from 40 to 70%). While etoposide remains the gold standard in patients with severe HS, nearly 20% of patients are refractory to this therapy: treatment escalation is frequent, most often requiring the administration of intensive treatments generating high toxicity . Ruxolitinib is the first approved JAK inhibitor. It has been associated with improved HS manifestations and survival in a preclinical mouse model. Data in humans are sparse but promising.
Not Applicable None

Regulatory references

Scientific advice from competent authorities
National Agency For The Safety Of Medicine And Health Products
Plan to share IPD
No

Eligibility criteria

Principal inclusion / exclusion criteria as submitted by sponsor

Inclusion criteria 7

  1. - adult patients older than 18 years
  2. - acquired hemophagocytic syndrome, regardless of etiology, defined by the presence of 5 or 6 HLH-2004 criteria or HScore ≥ 200
  3. - admission in the ICU
  4. - need for symptomatic treatment of HS in relation with organ failure, as defined by SOFA score ≥ 4
  5. - Informed consent signed: • by the patient, • Or informed consent signed by a family members/trustworthy person if his condition does not allow him to express his consent in written as per L1111-6,
  6. - Or in an emergency situation and in the absence of family members/trustworthy person, the patient can be enrolled. The consent to participate to the research will be requested as soon as the condition of the patient will allow).
  7. - The inclusion of women of childbearing potential requires the use of a highly effective contraceptive measure. Contraception should be maintained during treatment and one day after.

Exclusion criteria 13

  1. - Moribund, defined by a life expectancy < 48 hours;
  2. - Pregnant or lactating patients (women of childbearing potential must have a negative urine or blood Human Chorionic Gonadotropin pregnancy test prior to trial entry);
  3. - No affiliation to health insurance;
  4. - Known hypersensitivity to ruxolitinib;
  5. - Lactose intolerance;
  6. - Hypersensitivity to cellulose, microcrystalline; magnesium stearate; silica, colloidal anhydrous; sodium starch glycolate (Type A); povidone K30; hydroxypropylcellulose 300 to 600 cps,
  7. - Pre-existing decisions of withholding/withdrawing care,
  8. - History of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy
  9. - Uncontrolled cutaneous cancer
  10. - Persons under psychiatric care that would impede understanding of informed consent and optimal treatment and follow-up
  11. - Adults subject to a legal protection measure (guardianship, curatorship and safeguard of justice)
  12. - Patients deprived of their liberty by a judicial or administrative decision
  13. - Participation in another interventional research

Endpoints

Primary and secondary outcome measures (English text)

Primary endpoints 1

  1. The primary end point will be survival with a decrease in SOFA score ≥ 3 points at day 7.

Secondary endpoints 4

  1. - Overall survival in HS critically ill patients
  2. - Temperature, SOFA score and biological (ferritin level, CD25 soluble receptor dosage, fibrinogen level, triglycerides level, hemoglobin level, white blood cells count, platelets count) manifestations related to HS
  3. - To analyse biological inflammatory markers (IL2, IL6, IL10, IL12, GM-CSF, IFN gamma, TNF alpha)
  4. - Safety of ruxolitinib in critically ill HS patients

Investigational products

Investigational medicinal products (IMPs), comparators, placebo, auxiliary

Test 1

Jakavi 5 mg tablets

PRD3949636 · Product

Active substance
Ruxolitinib
Pharmaceutical form
TABLET
Route of administration
ORAL
Max daily dose
20 mg milligram(s)
Max total dose
560 mg milligram(s)
Max treatment duration
28 Day(s)
Authorisation status
Authorised
ATC code
L01EJ01 — -
Marketing authorisation
EU/1/12/773/006
MA holder
NOVARTIS EUROPHARM LIMITED
MA country
Iceland
Paediatric formulation
No
Orphan designation
No
Modified vs. Marketing Authorisation
No

Auxiliary 3

Etoposide

SCP6155697 · ATC

Active substance
Etoposide
Route of administration
INJECTABLE SOLUTION
Max daily dose
150 mg/m2 milligram(s)/sq. meter
Max total dose
450
Max treatment duration
3 Day(s)
Authorisation status
Authorised
ATC code
L01CB01 — ETOPOSIDE
Marketing authorisation
-
Paediatric formulation
No
Orphan designation
No
Modified vs. Marketing Authorisation
No

Betamethasone Sodium Phosphate Ph. Eur

SCP1977137 · ATC

Active substance
Betamethasone Sodium Phosphate Ph. Eur
Route of administration
OTHER USE
Max daily dose
40 mg milligram(s)
Max total dose
40 mg milligram(s)
Max treatment duration
1 Week(s)
Authorisation status
Authorised
ATC code
H02AB02 — DEXAMETHASONE
Marketing authorisation
-
Paediatric formulation
No
Orphan designation
No
Modified vs. Marketing Authorisation
No

Lidocaine Hydrochloride Monohydrate

SCP65085035 · ATC

Active substance
Lidocaine Hydrochloride Monohydrate
Route of administration
INTRAVENIOUS INFUSION
Max daily dose
2 mg/Kg milligram(s)/kilogram
Max total dose
2 mg/Kg milligram(s)/kilogram
Max treatment duration
1 Day(s)
Authorisation status
Authorised
ATC code
H02AB04 — METHYLPREDNISOLONE
Marketing authorisation
-
Paediatric formulation
No
Orphan designation
No
Modified vs. Marketing Authorisation
No

Sponsors and contacts

Sponsor organisations, regulatory contacts, third parties

Assistance Publique Hopitaux De Paris

Sponsor organisation
Assistance Publique Hopitaux De Paris
Address
Porte 23, 1 Avenue Claude Vellefaux 1 Avenue Claude Vellefaux
City
Paris Cedex 10
Postcode
75475
Country
France

Scientific contact point

Organisation
Assistance Publique Hopitaux De Paris
Contact name
Dr Sandrine VALADE

Public contact point

Organisation
Assistance Publique Hopitaux De Paris
Contact name
Dr Sandrine VALADE

Locations

1 EU/EEA country · 9 investigational sites

By country

CountryMS statusPlanned subjectsSites
France Ongoing, recruiting 42 9
Rest of world 0

Investigational sites

France

9 sites · Ongoing, recruiting
Institut Paoli-Calmettes
Reanimation, 232 Boulevard De Sainte Marguerite, Bp 156, Marseille
Centre Hospitalier Universitaire De Toulouse
Reanimation, 1 Avenue Du Professeur Jean Poulhes, Tsa 50032, Toulouse Cedex 9
Centre Hospitalier Universitaire De Toulouse
Reanimation, 1 Avenue Du Professeur Jean Poulhes, Tsa 50032, Toulouse Cedex 9
Centre Hospitalier Universitaire De Nantes
Reanimation, 1 Place Alexis Ricordeau, 44000, Nantes
Institut Gustave Roussy
Reanimation, 39 Rue Camille Desmoulins, 94805, Villejuif Cedex
Assistance Publique Hopitaux De Paris
Service médecine intensive-réanimation, 27 Rue Du Faubourg Saint Jacques, 75014, Paris
Assistance Publique Hopitaux De Paris
service de Médecine Intensive et Réanimation, 1 Avenue Claude Vellefaux, 75010, Paris
Centre Hospitalier Universitaire De Lille
Reanimation, Rue Emile Laine, 59037, Lille Cedex
Assistance Publique Hopitaux De Paris
Service de Médecine Intensive Réanimation R3S, Num Voie 47 A 83, 47 Boulevard De L Hopital, Paris

Country notifications

Trial-start, recruitment-start, end and early-termination notifications submitted per Member State

Country Trial startTrial end Recruitment startRecruitment end Early termination
France 2024-09-16 2024-09-16

Oversight and notifications

Regulatory notifications under CTR Articles 38, 52, 53, 54 and 77

Urgent safety measures 1 · Art. 54 CTR

Urgent safety measure US-112844

Event date
2025-12-17
Submission date
2025-12-23
In response to
OTHER
Member states affected
France
Event description
« JAKAHDI » is a phase II multicentre national uncontrolled trial of based on a Fleming 2-stage design.

The primary objective of the «JAKAHDI » study is to demonstrate that ruxolitinib, in association with standard of care, may reverse organ failure (as represented by SOFA score) better than standard of care alone in critically ill patients with acquired hemophagocytic syndrome.
The primary end point will be survival with a decrease in SOFA score ≥ 3 points at day 7.

On 24-Oct-2025, 21 patients have been included. According to protocol, an interim analysis will be performed once Day 7 status of the 21th consecutively enrolled patient has been observed. Enrollment has been temporarily suspended for this interim analysis (eCRF blocked on 27-Oct-2025).
Based on these 21 patients :
- if there are 11 responses or less, the trial ends with the conclusion of futility;
- if there are 17 responses or higher, it ends with the conclusion of efficacy;
- otherwise, it continues with 21 additional subjects; efficacy will be demonstrated if there are at least 27 responses overall.

The interim analysis counts 9 responding patients.

This unexpected event with urgent safety measure follows the presentation of the safety data and the result of the interim analysis at the second meeting of the DSMB held on 12-Dec-2025. Following this meeting, the DSMB recommended halting the clinical trial due to its probable futility.
Measures taken
The sponsor has decided to follow the DSMB recommendations and the methodology outlined in the protocol and to permanently halt enrollment. There are no longer any patients currently receiving treatment. Follow-up of enrolled patients continues without modification, in accordance with the protocol.

All participating investigator sites in the JAKAHDI study were notified of this decision on 17-Dec-2025.

A request for a substantial modification will be submitted to the relevant authorities within 15 days to formally approve the definitive halt to enrollment

Results and documents

Annex IV summary of results, Annex V layperson summary, and all documents registered in CTIS for this trial

Documents 22 files

Public protocol annexes, IB summaries, regulatory submissions and post-authorisation documents registered in CTIS.

TypeTitleVersion
Protocol (for publication) D1_Pregnancy Notification Form 2023-504513-77-00 1
Protocol (for publication) D1_Protocol 2023-504513-77-00_for publication 1-1
Protocol (for publication) D1_Protocol 2023-504513-77-00_for publication_tc 1-1
Protocol (for publication) D1_SAE Notification Form 2023-504513-77-00 1
Protocol (for publication) D1_Standardized Care Protocol_2023-504513-77-00 1
Recruitment arrangements (for publication) K1_Recruitment arrangements ENG 2023-504513-77-00 1
Recruitment arrangements (for publication) K1_Recruitment arrangements FR 2023-504513-77-00 1
Subject information and informed consent form (for publication) L1_SIS and ICF close pursuit 1-1
Subject information and informed consent form (for publication) L1_SIS and ICF close pursuit_tc 1-1
Subject information and informed consent form (for publication) L1_SIS and ICF close_use-data 1-1
Subject information and informed consent form (for publication) L1_SIS and ICF close_use-data_tc 1-1
Subject information and informed consent form (for publication) L1_SIS and ICF major 1-1
Subject information and informed consent form (for publication) L1_SIS and ICF major_out of STATE_close 1-1
Subject information and informed consent form (for publication) L1_SIS and ICF major_out of STATE_close_tc 1-1
Subject information and informed consent form (for publication) L1_SIS and ICF major_tc 1-1
Subject information and informed consent form (for publication) L1_SIS and ICF patient data 1-1
Subject information and informed consent form (for publication) L1_SIS and ICF patient data_tc 1-1
Subject information and informed consent form (for publication) L1_SIS and ICF patient pursuit 1-1
Subject information and informed consent form (for publication) L1_SIS and ICF patient pursuit_tc 1-1
Subject information and informed consent form (for publication) L2_ Other subject information material_PATIENT CARD 2023-504513-77-00 1
Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) (for publication) E2_SmPC ruxolitinib 1
Synopsis of the protocol (for publication) D1_Protocol synopsis_ENG FR 2023-504513-77-00 1

Application history

2 submissions — initial application plus substantial / non-substantial modifications

#TypeCodeSubmittedReference MSConclusionDecision date
1 INITIAL IN 2023-07-07 France Acceptable
2023-09-22
2023-10-10
2 SUBSTANTIAL MODIFICATION SM-1 2026-01-06 France Acceptable
2026-02-20
2026-02-25