A first-in-class JAK/ROCK inhibitor, rovadicitinib, for glucocorticoid-refractory or -dependent chronic GVHD

Y Yanmin M. Zhao (1Bone Marrow Transplantation Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China) Y Yi Luo (State Key Laboratory of Green Chemical Engineering and Industrial Catalysis) J Jimin M. Shi (1Bone Marrow Transplantation Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China) S Shunqing Q. Wang (4Department of Hematology, Guangzhou First People’s Hospital, Guangzhou, China) C Caixia K. Wang (4Department of Hematology, Guangzhou First People’s Hospital, Guangzhou, China) E Erlie L. Jiang (5Stem Cell Transplant Center, Institute of Hematology and Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin, China) C Chen Liang (MOE Key Laboratory for Non-Equilibrium Synthesis and Modulation of Condensed Matter, School of Physics) X Xiaoyu Y. Zhu (6Department of Hematology, Anhui Provincial Hospital, Hefei, China) X Xuejun J. Zhang (7Department of Hematology, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China) F Fankai K. Meng (8Department of Hematology, Tongji Hospital Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China) H Hua Jin Y Yeqian Q. Zhao (1Bone Marrow Transplantation Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China) J Jian Yu (Department of Chemistry) X Xiaoyu Y. Lai (1Bone Marrow Transplantation Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China) L Lizhen Z. Liu (1Bone Marrow Transplantation Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China) H Huarui R. Fu (1Bone Marrow Transplantation Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China) Y Yishan S. Ye (1Bone Marrow Transplantation Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China) C Congxiao X. Zhang (1Bone Marrow Transplantation Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China) T Tao Wang L Lifan F. Tu (11Department of Clinical Medicine, Chia Tai Tianqing Pharmaceutical Group Co, Ltd, Nanjing, China) X Xunqiang Q. Wang (11Department of Clinical Medicine, Chia Tai Tianqing Pharmaceutical Group Co, Ltd, Nanjing, China) H He Huang

Abstract

Abstract Rovadicitinib (TQ05105) is a novel, oral dual Janus kinase 1/2 and rho-associated coiled-coil–containing protein kinase-1/2 inhibitor targeting inflammatory and fibrotic components of chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD). This phase 1b/2a, multicenter, open-label study enrolled patients with moderate or severe glucocorticoid-refractory or -dependent cGVHD to evaluate the safety and efficacy of rovadicitinib. The study followed a 3+3 design with 2 escalating doses (rovadicitinib 10 and 15 mg twice daily) and a dose expansion cohort. Primary end points included safety and recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D); the best overall response (BOR) was the key secondary end point. A total of 44 patients were enrolled (29 at 10 mg, 15 at 15 mg twice daily). Rovadicitinib was well tolerated without dose-limiting toxicity at both dosages, and no rovadicitinib-related adverse events (AEs) led to discontinuation. The most prevalent hematological AE was anemia (38.6%), with grade ≥3 of 4.6%. The RP2D was 10 mg twice daily. The BOR was 86.4% (95% confidence interval [CI], 72.6-94.8), with no difference between the 2 dosage cohorts. Besides, BOR was 72.7% in the steroid-refractory cohort and 90.9% in the steroid-dependent cohort. All affected organs exhibited responses regardless of prior therapy. The failure-free survival rate was 85.2% (95% CI, 64.5-94.3) at 12 months. Rovadicitinib reduced corticosteroid doses in 88.6% of patients and improved cGVHD symptoms in 59.1%. Rovadicitinib has favorable tolerability and notable clinical response rates, ameliorating the quality of life and reducing corticosteroid dose requirements in patients with glucocorticoid-refractory or -dependent cGVHD. This trial was registered at www.ClinicalTrials.gov as #NCT04944043.

Article Details

Journal Blood
Volume / Issue Vol. 145, Issue 24
Published June 12, 2025
Pages 2857-2872
ISSN 0006-4971
Publisher Elsevier BV

Journal Info

Blood

Elsevier BV

ISSN: 0006-4971 Health Sciences

Authors (22)

Y

Yanmin M. Zhao

1Bone Marrow Transplantation Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China

Y

Yi Luo

State Key Laboratory of Green Chemical Engineering and Industrial Catalysis

J

Jimin M. Shi

1Bone Marrow Transplantation Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China

S

Shunqing Q. Wang

4Department of Hematology, Guangzhou First People’s Hospital, Guangzhou, China

C

Caixia K. Wang

4Department of Hematology, Guangzhou First People’s Hospital, Guangzhou, China

E

Erlie L. Jiang

5Stem Cell Transplant Center, Institute of Hematology and Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin, China

C

Chen Liang

MOE Key Laboratory for Non-Equilibrium Synthesis and Modulation of Condensed Matter, School of Physics

X

Xiaoyu Y. Zhu

6Department of Hematology, Anhui Provincial Hospital, Hefei, China

X

Xuejun J. Zhang

7Department of Hematology, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China

F

Fankai K. Meng

8Department of Hematology, Tongji Hospital Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China

H

Hua Jin

Y

Yeqian Q. Zhao

1Bone Marrow Transplantation Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China

J

Jian Yu

Department of Chemistry

X

Xiaoyu Y. Lai

1Bone Marrow Transplantation Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China

L

Lizhen Z. Liu

1Bone Marrow Transplantation Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China

H

Huarui R. Fu

1Bone Marrow Transplantation Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China

Y

Yishan S. Ye

1Bone Marrow Transplantation Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China

C

Congxiao X. Zhang

1Bone Marrow Transplantation Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China

T

Tao Wang

L

Lifan F. Tu

11Department of Clinical Medicine, Chia Tai Tianqing Pharmaceutical Group Co, Ltd, Nanjing, China

X

Xunqiang Q. Wang

11Department of Clinical Medicine, Chia Tai Tianqing Pharmaceutical Group Co, Ltd, Nanjing, China

H

He Huang