The clinical trial for the medication ruxolitinib will soon be open for patients with idiopathic/HHV-8-negative multicentric Castleman disease (iMCD)
The trial will be open for patients with idiopathic (HHV-8-negative) multicentric Castleman disease who continued to experience significant symptoms after trying either siltuximab or tocilizumab.
About the clinical trial
Dr. David Fajgenbaum, Principal Investigator, University of Pennsylvania
The Castleman Disease Collaborative Network (CDCN) is partnering with the University of Pennsylvania to conduct a research study of an investigational medicine, ruxolitinib, for adults who have idiopathic multicentric Castleman disease (iMCD) and are unable to benefit from anti-IL-6 therapies. Anti-IL-6 therapies are siltuximab (Sylvant) and tocilizumab (Actemra). This trial will open in the fall of 2025. Please visit this page in the future for upcoming trial information.
Enrollment Criteria
Patients who will be included in this clinical trial will meet the following criteria:
- Officially diagnosed with idiopathic (HHV-8-negative) multicentric Castleman disease by a physician
- are between the ages of 18 and 80
- have previously taken either siltuximab (Sylvant) or tocilizumab (Actemra) and did not have significant disease improvement while taking these medications OR were not able to stay on these medications due to severe side effects or allergic reaction
- have active disease with signs and symptoms of Castleman disease at the time of enrollment in the trial
About Ruxolitinib
Ruxolitinib is a medication that blocks a cell signaling pathway called (JAK)-STAT3. This drug was originally created to treat myelofibrosis, a bone marrow disorder belonging to a group of diseases known as myeloproliferative neoplasms became FDA-approved for this use in 2011. Ruxolitinib is taken orally as a pill and is not an IV medication.
While siltuximab is the only FDA-approved drug for Castleman disease, the first study showing that ruxolitinib may benefit patients with Castleman disease was published in 2022. The study included two patients with idiopathic mulitcentric Castleman disease (iMCD) in whom tocilizumab had not worked, and the result showed that taking ruxolitinib had put each of these patients into remission. Read the full text of this published paper here.
If you are interested in ruxolitinib, contact your physician about your options. If you are thinking about changing your medication, please let our research team know by emailing castlebank@uphs.upenn.edu or calling 267-586-9977.
I still have questions. Where can I find answers?
Research staff are available to answer all questions and provide additional information.
- Phone: Bridget Austin, (267)-586-9977
- Email: CDTrial@PennMedicine.UPenn.edu