Vonjo

Pronunciation: VON-joh
Generic name: pacritinib
Dosage form: capsule (100 mg)
Drug class: Multikinase inhibitors

Medically reviewed by Melisa Puckey, BPharm. Last updated on Feb 22, 2024.

What is Vonjo?

Vonjo (pacritinib) capsules are used to treat types of myelofibrosis with low platelet counts (cytopenic myelofibrosis) to help reduce spleen volume. Vonjo is a kinase inhibitor that works by blocking certain types of enzymes called Janus associated kinase 2 (JAK2) and FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) without blocking JAK1.

Vonjo received FDA approval on February 28, 2022, for adults with intermediate or high-risk primary or secondary (post-polycythemia vera or post-essential thrombocythemia) myelofibrosis with a platelet count below 50 × 109 /L. Vonjo received accelerated approval for this indication based on spleen volume reduction, and continued approval for this indication will depend on positive results in future trial results.

In the clinical trial, PERSIST-2, 29% of patients had a reduction in spleen volume of at least 35% compared to 3% of patients receiving the best available therapy, which included ruxolitinib. Patients had myelofibrosis with platelet counts less than or equal to 100 × 109/L and took Vonjo 200mg twice daily for 24 weeks.

Vonjo side effects

Common Vonjo side effects may include swelling in ankles, legs, and feet, nausea and vomiting, or pale skin, tiredness, feeling light-headed or short of breath, and cold hands and feet.

Serious Vonjo side effects

Vonjo may cause serious side effects; call your doctor at once if you have symptoms including:

bleeding, bruising, and fever;
severe or ongoing diarrhea;
dizziness, a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out;
signs of a stroke - sudden numbness or weakness, severe headache, slurred speech, problems with vision or balance;
signs of a blood clot in the lung - chest pain, sudden cough or shortness of breath, dizziness, coughing up blood;
signs of a blood clot deep in the body - pain, swelling, or warmth in one leg;
heart attack symptoms - chest pain or pressure, pain spreading to your jaw or shoulder, nausea, sweating; or
signs of infection - fever, chills, sore throat, body aches, unusual tiredness, loss of appetite, bruising or bleeding.

Allergic reaction: Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives, difficulty breathing, swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

This is not a complete list of side effects, and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Before taking this medicine

Some drugs should not be used with Vonjo. Your treatment plan may change if you also use:

nefazodone;
St. John's wort;
an antibiotic - clarithromycin, rifabutin, rifampin, rifapentine, telithromycin;
antifungal medicine - itraconazole, ketoconazole;
antiviral medicine for HIV or hepatitis C - boceprevir, cobicistat, dasabuvir, elvitegravir, indinavir, lopinavir/ritonavir, nelfinavir, ombitasvir, paritaprevir, saquinavir, telaprevir, tipranavir;
cancer medicine - apalutamide, enzalutamide, mitotane;
seizure medicine - carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine, phenytoin, primidone; or
steroid medicine - dexamethasone, prednisone.

Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

liver or kidney disease;
any other cancers;
a blood clot, or stroke;
a heart attack, or other heart problem;
if you have an infection;
if you have diarrhea (or loose stools), nausea or vomiting;
if you smoke or were a smoker; or
if you have active bleeding, have had severe bleeding, or plan to have surgery.

Pregnancy

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, as it is not known if Vonjo will harm an unborn baby. It may be harder for you to get a woman pregnant while you are using this medicine.

Breastfeeding

Do not breastfeed while using Vonjo and for at least 2 weeks after your last dose.

How should I take Vonjo?

Vonjo is usually taken by mouth twice every day, with or without food.

Swallow the capsule whole and do not crush, chew, break, or open it.

If you take other kinase inhibitors, such as fedratinib or ruxolitinib, you should not stop using these medicines suddenly before you start taking Vonjo. Follow your doctor's instructions about tapering your dose.

Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Use the medicine exactly as directed.

You will need blood tests before you start taking Vonjo and during treatment.

Your treatment with Vonjo may be delayed or permanently discontinued if you have certain side effects.

If you notice any change in how often you have bowel movements, if they become softer or you have diarrhea, start taking an antidiarrheal medicine (for example, loperamide) as soon as you notice changes, as directed by your healthcare provider.

Vonjo Dosing Information

The usual adult dose for myelofibrosis is 200 mg orally 2 times a day.

Vonjo is available in 100mg capsules.

Vonjo Use: Treatment of patients with intermediate or high-risk primary or secondary (post-polycythemia vera OR post-essential thrombocythemia) myelofibrosis (MF) with a platelet count less than 50 times 10(9)/L (50 x 10(9)/L).

What happens if I miss a dose?

If you miss a dose, skip the dose and just take your next dose at your regularly scheduled time. Do not take 2 doses at the same time to make up for the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

What other drugs will affect Vonjo?

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Taking Vonjo with certain other medicines may affect the amount of Vonjo in your blood, and may increase your risk of side effects or affect how well Vonjo works.

Know the medicines you take. Keep a list of the medicines you take to show your healthcare provider and pharmacist when you get a new medicine.

Especially tell your doctor of if you are taking any of the following medicines:

macrolide antibiotics (clarithromycin, erythromycin)
antifungal medicines (itraconazole, ketoconazole, posaconazole, voriconazole)
HIV medicines that contain atazanavir, darunavir, efavirenz, etravirine, indinavir, nelfinavir, nevirapine, ritonavir, saquinavir, or cobicistat
heart or blood pressure medicines (quinidine, amiodarone, diltiazem, verapamil)
cimetidine
mifepristone
nefazodone
cannabidiol
cyclosporine
phenytoin
Rifampin

Not all possible interactions are listed here.

Vonjo Package Insert

Review the Vonjo Package Insert for more detailed information about this medicine. Discuss any medical questions you have with your doctor or other health care provider. This is not all the information you need to know about this medicine for safe and effective use, and it does not take the place of talking to your doctor about your treatment.

How should I store Vonjo?

Store Vonjo capsules at room temperature, below 86°F (30°C).
Store the capsules in the original package.
Keep the bottle tightly closed to protect the capsules from light.

Ingredients

Active ingredient: pacritinib
Inactive ingredients: microcrystalline cellulose, polyethylene glycol 8000 (PEG 8000), and magnesium stearate. The capsule shell contains gelatin, titanium dioxide, black iron oxide, erythrosine, red iron oxide and printing ink containing shellac, titanium dioxide, propylene glycol, sodium hydroxide, and povidone.

Company

Vonjo is Manufactured and Marketed by CTI BioPharma Corp., 3101 Western Ave #800, Seattle WA 98121

Popular FAQ

What are JAK inhibitors and how do they work?

Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors are a group of medicines that help block immune system signals in the body that can lead to swelling (inflammation) and pain in conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, ulcerative colitis, and psoriatic arthritis. They work by blocking enzymes that lead to overactivity of the immune system. Continue reading

Which JAK inhibitors are approved in the U.S?

List of JAK inhibitors approved in the United States include: