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Active, not recruitingNCT06782373Updated Sep 15, 2026

A Study to Assess the Effectiveness and Safety of Pacritinib in Patients With VEXAS Syndrome (PAXIS)

A Phase 2 interventional study of Pacritinib and Placebo in VEXAS and VEXAS Syndrome, sponsored by Swedish Orphan Biovitrum. Active, not recruiting at 39 sites in 8 countries. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-09-15.

Sponsored by Swedish Orphan Biovitrum · Phase 2, Interventional, and Treatment

Phase
Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
156
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years and older
Sex
All
01

Study summary

This trial is to assess the effectiveness and safety of pacritinib in patients with VEXAS (i.e., Vacuoles in myeloid progenitors, E1 ubiquitin-activating enzyme, X-linked, autoinflammatory manifestations, and somatic) syndrome. In phase 2a, approximately 78 participants will be randomized to either pacritinib dose A, pacritinib dose B + placebo, or placebo. In Phase 2b, approximately 78 participants will be randomized. Phase 2b participants will initially be randomized to either pacritinib dose A, pacritinib dose B + placebo, or placebo. After dose selection, Phase 2b further participants will be randomized to either the selected pacritinib dose or placebo.

Randomization will be stratified by prescribed GC dose on the day of randomization.

Read the detailed description

This trial is a randomized, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 2a and 2b trial designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of pacritinib for the prevention of VEXAS flares after glucocorticoid (GC) taper. The trial will enroll participants ≥18 years with inflammatory VEXAS syndrome receiving ongoing GC therapy for ≥4 consecutive weeks, requiring between 15 and 45 mg daily (of prednisone / prednisolone or equivalent) at the time of enrollment (randomization).

In phase 2a, participants will be randomized 1:1:1 to receive pacritinib dose A (n=26), pacritinib dose B plus placebo (n=26), or placebo (n=26) for up to 24 weeks during a double-blind treatment period, followed by treatment with pacritinib during an open-label treatment period for up to 48 weeks.

In Phase 2b, approximately 78 participants will be randomized (enrollment starts after completion of Phase 2a enrollment). Randomization will initially be conducted in a 1:1:1 ratio to receive pacritinib dose A, pacritinib dose B plus placebo, or placebo, consistent with Phase 2a. Following Phase 2a results, a single pacritinib dose will be selected for continued evaluation. After dose selection, Phase 2b further participants will be randomized in a 2:1 ratio of the selected pacritinib dose to placebo until the total target of 78 participants are randomized.

Randomization will be stratified by prescribed GC dose on the day of randomization. All outcomes will be reported by treatment arm, and comparisons between each pacritinib arm and placebo (Phase 2a) or between the selected pacritinib dose and placebo (Phase 2b) will be performed in the double-blind treatment periods.

Participants who complete the double-blind treatment period at EOW 24 or meet Early Failure criteria at EOW 12 will transition to an open-label pacritinib treatment period through EOW 48. In addition, if a trial arm closes (due to interim futility or safety in Phase 2a or due to dose selection in Phase 2b), all participants currently randomized to the terminated arm will transition to open-label treatment.

Participants who complete the open-label treatment period at End of Week (EOW) 48 and who are benefitting from pacritinib in the opinion of the Investigator may continue to receive treatment for an additional 2 years on the extension period. Participants who discontinue study treatment will have a 30-day post-End of Treatment (EOT) follow-up period.

The trial (including the double-blind and open-label treatment periods, as well as the extension period) is planned to end approximately 3 years from the first dose of the last participant.

02

Conditions studied

  • VEXAS
  • VEXAS Syndrome

Keywords

  • Vacuoles
  • E1 Ubiquitin-activating enzyme
  • X-linked
  • Autoinflammatory
  • Somatic syndrome
  • UBA1
  • Hematologic neoplasms
  • Myelodysplastic Syndromes
  • Pacritinib
  • Myeloid progenitors
03

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years and older
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Eligibility criteria

Key Inclusion Criteria:

  • Documented evidence of a pathogenic mutation at methionine-41 (M41) or neighboring splice site mutation (c.118-1, c.118-2) position in UBA1 mutation based on myeloid next-generation sequencing (NGS) droplet digital polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR), or Sanger sequencing in peripheral blood or bone marrow samples.
  • Current or documented evidence of past inflammatory involvement within 6 months prior to enrollment of at least one of the following organ systems by VEXAS syndrome: cutaneous (e.g., neutrophilic dermatosis, cutaneous vasculitis), vasculature (e.g., vasculitis), musculoskeletal (e.g., chondritis, arthritis), ocular (e.g., uveitis, scleritis), periorbital (e.g. periorbital edema), genitourinary (e.g., epididymitis), or pulmonary (e.g., alveolitis).
  • Receiving ongoing GC therapy (stable prednisone or prednisolone dose of 15-45 mg/day) leading up to enrollment.
  • Karnofsky Performance Status ≥50%
  • Adequate organ function, meeting all the following criteria within 30 days prior to enrollment:

    1. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ≤3 × upper limit of normal (ULN)
    2. Total bilirubin ≤4 × ULN (≤8 × ULN in the setting of Gilbert's syndrome)
    3. Creatinine clearance (CrCl) ≥30 mL/min based on the Cockcroft-Gault formula
    4. Absolute neutrophil count ≥500/μL
    5. Prothrombin time (PT) or international normalized ratio (INR) ≤1.5 × ULN (unless prolonged due to therapeutic anticoagulation)
    6. Partial thromboplastic time (PTT) or activated PTT ≤1.5 × ULN (unless prolonged due to therapeutic anticoagulation)
    7. Platelet count ≥25 × 10\^9/L (value must be obtained in the absence of platelet transfusion in the prior 7 days)
    8. Peripheral blasts \<5%
  • QT corrected by the Fridericia method (QTcF) ≤450 msec in males or ≤470 msec in females. Participants with QRS prolongation >100 msec may enroll if their QTcF is ≤480 msec. Participants with ventricular paced rhythms may enroll if their QTcF is ≤500 msec. If QTcF is thought to be prolonged due to a modifiable factor (e.g., medication / electrolyte abnormality), QTcF may be reevaluated.
  • Women of child-bearing potential (WOCBP) must have a negative serum pregnancy test within 30 days prior to enrollment and a negative urine pregnancy test on Day 1 prior to randomization and dosing.
  • WOCBP and male participants must agree to use a highly effective method of contraception starting at the first dose of trial therapy through 30 days after the last dose of trial therapy.

Key Exclusion Criteria

  • Prior allogenic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (allo-HSCT) or solid organ transplant (other than corneal).
  • Current use of systemic GCs for conditions other than VEXAS syndrome, which, in the opinion of the Investigator, would interfere with adherence to a GC taper regimen and/or assessment of efficacy.
  • More than one prior admission to an intensive care unit due to a VEXAS Syndrome flare within the prior 6 months.
  • Received ≥9 units of intensive red blood cell (RBC) transfusions in the 90 days prior to enrollment.
  • Known concurrent myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) requiring antineoplastic treatment, or allo-HSCT, or known high-risk or very high-risk MDS based on the Revised International Prognostic Scoring System (IPSS-R). Participants with MDS who do not meet these criteria may enroll.
  • Malignancy within 1 year prior to enrollment with the exception of MDS (per exclusion criterion), curatively treated non-melanoma skin cancer, or curatively treated carcinoma in situ. Participants with pre-malignant hematologic conditions (e.g., monoclonal gammopathy of unknown significance [MGUS], clonal cytopenia of unknown significance) may enroll.
  • Exposure to hypomethylating agents (HMA) within 6 months prior to enrollment, or exposure to more than 6 cycles of HMAs at any time.
  • Exposure to non-GC anti-inflammatory therapy or hematologic support therapy within protocol defined timeframes prior to enrollment
  • Exposure to anti-platelet therapy with the exception of low-dose aspirin (≤100 mg daily) within 28 days prior to enrollment.
  • Known concomitant multiple myeloma, or serum M-protein ≥3 g/dL, involved-to uninvolved free light chain (FLC) ratio ≥100, or involved FLC level ≥100 mg/dL. Participants with MGUS may enroll.
  • Systemic treatment with a strong cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) inhibitor or inducer within 5 half-lives prior to enrollment.
  • Significant recent bleeding history defined as National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) grade ≥2 within 3 months prior to enrollment, unless precipitated by an inciting event.
  • History of clinically significant cardiovascular disease, or clinically significant abnormalities in rhythm or conduction during Screening ECG, including:

    1. Severe cardiac event (CTCAE grade ≥3) within 3 months prior to enrollment
    2. Heart failure resulting in limitations during ordinary activity.
  • Arterial or venous thrombotic or embolic events, including deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, and cerebrovascular accident (including transient ischemic attacks), within 60 days prior to enrollment.
  • Moderate or severe hepatic impairment that meets criteria for Child-Pugh Class B or C, or active viral hepatitis.
  • Uncontrolled human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) off antiretrovirals, or on antiretrovirals with detectable viral load.
  • Positive Quantiferon (or other interferon gamma release assay) during Screening.
  • Known history of disseminated mycobacterial infection.
  • Concurrent or prior enrollment in another prospective interventional trial of VEXAS-directed therapy, or concurrent enrollment in another interventional trial of non-VEXAS-directed therapy, or treatment with a non-VEXAS-directed experimental therapy within 28 days or five half-lives prior to enrollment, whichever is longer.
  • Pregnant, intending to become pregnant during the trial, or currently breastfeeding/lactating.
  • Participants with any acute, active infection requiring systemic antimicrobial treatment at the time of enrollment. Exceptions are made for prophylactic antibiotics or chronic antibiotic therapy for non-acute conditions.
  • Known hypersensitivity to pacritinib or any of the following inactive ingredients: microcrystalline cellulose, polyethylene glycol, and magnesium stearate.
04

Study design

Phase
Phase 2
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
Triple (Participant, Investigator, Outcomes assessor)
Enrollment
156 participants (estimated)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    Pacritinib

    To receive oral administration of pacritinib dose A for up to 24 weeks.

    Drug: Pacritinib

  • Experimental
    Pacritinib + placebo

    To receive oral administration of pacritinib dose B plus placebo for up to 24 weeks

    Drug: Pacritinib · Drug: Placebo

  • Placebo comparator
    Placebo

    To receive oral administration of placebo for up to 24 weeks.

    Drug: Placebo

Interventions

  • DrugPacritinib

    Supplied in hard capsules.

  • DrugPlacebo

    Supplied in hard capsules.

05

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Overall Response Rate (ORR), defined as achieving Partial Clinical Response or better at any time during the double-blind treatment period.

    Difference in the proportion of participants achieving ORR for the pairwise comparison of pacritinib dose A vs. placebo and pacritinib dose B plus placebo vs. placebo (Phase 2a) and selected pacritinib dose compared to placebo (Phase 2b)

    Time frame: up to End of Week 24

Secondary outcomes

  1. Overall Clinical Response (OCR), defined as achieving Clinical Response or better at any time during the double-blind treatment period

    Difference in the proportion of participants achieving OCR for the pairwise comparison of pacritinib dose A vs. placebo and pacritinib dose B plus placebo vs. placebo (Phase 2a) and selected pacritinib dose compared to placebo (Phase 2b)

    Time frame: up to End of Week 24

  2. Number of flare-free days with GC dose ≤10 mg

    Time frame: up to End of Week 24

  3. Proportion of participants on each arm achieving each Best Response category (Clinical Biochemical Response, Clinical Response, Partial Clinical Response, Stable Disease, or Non-response).

    Time frame: up to End of Week 24

  4. Hematologic Improvement - Erythroid

    Erythroid (HI-E) at any time among participants with baseline hemoglobin \<10 g/dL per modified International Working Group (IWG) criteria

    Time frame: up to End of Week 24

  5. Hematologic Improvement - Platelets

    Platelets (HI-P) at any time among participants with baseline platelet count \<100 × 10\^9/L per modified IWG criteria

    Time frame: up to End of Week 24

  6. Change in health-related quality of life (QOL) as measured by Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information Systems (PROMIS) fatigue short form

    The PROMIS short form domains of fatigue 4a will be summarized, raw score from 4 to 20 (T-score from 33.7 to 75.8). A higher score is associated with more fatigue.

    Time frame: up to End of Week 24

  7. Change in health-related QOL as measured by PROMIS physical function short form

    The PROMIS short form domains of physical function 4a will be summarized, raw score from 4 to 20 (T-score from 22.5 to 57.0). A higher score is associated with better physical function.

    Time frame: up to End of Week 24

  8. Change in health-related QOL as measured by PROMIS sleep disturbance short form

    The PROMIS short form domains of sleep disturbance 4a will be summarized, raw score from 4 to 20 (T-score from 32.0 to 73.3). A higher score is associated with more sleep disturbance.

    Time frame: up to End of Week 24

  9. Change in health-related QOL as measured by the 36-item short form (SF) Survey

    The SF-36 Survey measures eight domains of health status; physical functioning, role limitations due to physical health, role limitations due to emotional problems, energy/fatigue, emotional well-being, social functioning, pain, and general health. The values for each domain range from 0 to 100, with the higher score indicating a better health status.

    Time frame: up to End of Week 24

  10. Change in health-related QOL as measured by Patient's Global Impression of Change (PGIC) response

    The number and percentage of participants achieving PGIC response (reporting symptoms as "much" or "very much" improved).

    Time frame: up to End of Week 24

  11. Mean plasma concentration of pacritinib

    Mean plasma concentrations (pre-dose and post-dose) will be determined for each pharmacokinetic sampling timepoint.

    Time frame: up to Week 24 (pre-dose only)

  12. Change in pharmacodynamic (PD) inflammatory biomarker: C-reactive protein (CRP)

    Time frame: up to 30-day Post-End of Trial

  13. Change in PD inflammatory biomarker: erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)

    Time frame: up to 30-day Post-End of Trial

  14. Change in PD inflammatory biomarker: ferritin

    Time frame: up to 30-day Post-End of Trial

06

Study locations

39 sites
  • Mayo Clinic - Scottsdale
    Scottsdale, Arizona 85259, United States
  • Dana Farber Cancer Institute
    Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
  • Mayo Clinic - Rochester
    Rochester, Minnesota 55905, United States
  • NYU Langone Health
    New York, New York 10016, United States
  • Cleveland Clinic - Cleveland
    Cleveland, Ohio 44195, United States
  • The James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute
    Columbus, Ohio 43210, United States
  • UT MD Anderson Cancer Center
    Houston, Texas 77030, United States
  • University of Utah Healthcare
    Salt Lake City, Utah 84132, United States
  • Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center
    Seattle, Washington 98109, United States
  • Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute
    Vancouver, British Columbia V5Z 1M9, Canada
  • Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Center
    Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 2Y9, Canada
  • Princess Margaret Cancer Centre
    Toronto, Ontario M5G 2M9, Canada
  • Hospital du Sacre-Coeur in Montreal
    Montreal, Quebec H4J 1C5, Canada
  • Lille University Hospital Center
    Lille, 59037, France
  • Saint-Antoine Hospital - APHP
    Paris, 75012, France
  • Tenon Hospital - APHP
    Paris, 75020, France
  • Hospices Civils de Lyon - Lyon Sud
    Pierre-Bénite, 69310, France
  • University Hospital Center of Poitiers
    Poitiers, 86000, France
  • IUCT-Oncopole
    Toulouse, 31100, France
  • University Hospital Tuebingen, Medical Clinic II, Hematology, Oncology, Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology
    Tübingen, Baden-Wurttemberg 72076, Germany
  • Hospital Rechts der Isar of the Technical University of Munich, Clinic and Polyclinic for Internal Medicine III: Hematology and Internal Oncology
    Munich, Bavaria 81675, Germany
  • University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf
    Hamburg, Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg 20246, Germany
  • University Hospital Duesseldorf
    Düsseldorf, North Rhine-Westphalia 40225, Germany
  • University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden, Medical Clinic and Polyclinic I
    Dresden, Saxony 01307, Germany
  • University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein
    Lübeck, Schleswig-Holstein 23538, Germany
  • Hospital San Raffaele, IRCCS, Unit of Immunology, Rheumatology, Allergy and Rare Diseases
    Milan, 20132, Italy
  • University Hospital of Padova, Rheumatology Unit, Department of Medicine - DIMED
    Padova, 35128, Italy
  • AUSL of Reggio Emilia - Hospital Arcispedale S. Maria Nuova, Complex Structure of Rheumatology
    Reggio Emilia, 42123, Italy
  • Foundation PTV - Polyclinic Tor Vergata Biomedicine and prevention
    Roma, 00133, Italy
  • Fukushima Medical University Hospital
    Fukushima, 960-1295, Japan
  • Nagasaki University Hospital
    Nagasaki, 852-8501, Japan
  • Yokohama City University Hospital
    Yokohama, 236-0004, Japan
  • Hospital Clinic of Barcelona
    Barcelona, 08036, Spain
  • Catalan Institute of Oncology, Hospital Duran i Reynals, Department of Clinical Hematology
    L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, 08908, Spain
  • University Clinical Hospital of Salamanca
    Salamanca, 37007, Spain
  • St James's University Hospital
    Leeds, LS9 7TF, United Kingdom
  • Royal Free Hospital
    London, NW3 2QG, United Kingdom
  • King's College Hospital, Department of Hematology
    London, SE5 9RS, United Kingdom
  • Churchill Hospital
    Oxford, OX3 7LE, United Kingdom
07

References and documents

Publications

  • Beck DB, Heiblig M, Savic S, Ferrada MA, Mekinian A, Chowdhury O, Hammond D, Weeks LD, Gurnari C, Kirino Y, Georgin-Lavialle S, Buckley SA, Garcha R, Harder BG, Koster MJ. PAXIS: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Dose-Finding Phase 2 Study (Part 1) Followed by an Open-Label Period (Part 2) to Assess the Efficacy and Safety of Pacritinib in Patients with VEXAS Syndrome. J Clin Med. 2026 Feb 11;15(4):1426. doi: 10.3390/jcm15041426. PubMed 41753113 ↗

Individual participant data

Plan to share: Yes — Qualified researchers may request access to patient level data and related trial documents. Patient level data will be anonymized and trial documents, if applicable will be redacted to protect the privacy of trial participants.

08

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT06782373
Lead sponsor
Swedish Orphan Biovitrum
Collaborators
PSI CRO
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Jan 17, 2025
Start date
May 28, 2025
Primary completion
Dec 30, 2026 (estimated)
Completion
May 22, 2030 (estimated)
Last update
Sep 15, 2026

Study contacts

Study Physician
study director · Sobi, Inc.

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
Yes
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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