Can Jakavi be used instead of Opzelura? The short-but-full story.

Last updated: 15 January 2024

If you're a vitiligo patient trying to access Opzelura (ruxolitinib) in Europe, you might be in for a disappointment. Although the medicine was granted marketing authorization by the EMA in April 2023, it can take months until it's available on the market.

In the meantime, you might be wondering if there is an Opzelura alternative for vitiligo already on the market.

Other medicines with the same active substance (ruxolitinib) have been available in Europe for a while. One example is Jakavi (marketed as Jakafi in the USA). If you can access it right now, can Jakavi be used instead of Opzelura?

Unfortunately, the answer is no. Both medicines share the same active ingredient, but they work in a different way and treat different conditions. We’ll help you understand why.

Is Jakavi/Jakafi the same as Opzelura?

No. Both Jakavi /Jakafi and Opzelura are JAK inhibitors, and they both have the active ingredient ruxolitinib. However, the two medicines are indicated for very different conditions. They cannot and should not be used interchangeably.

Jakavi/Jakafi is a targeted cancer medicine. It's prescribed for the treatment of myelofibrosis, polycynthemia vera, acute and chronic Graft-Versus-Host disease ¹. All these conditions affect the blood and/or bone marrow.

Opzelura, on the other hand, is prescribed for skin conditions such as eczema and non-segmental vitiligo ².

Why can't Jakavi be used instead of Opzelura?

The main reason is that their active ingredient, ruxolitinib, works differently when taken orally and topically.

In the case of Jakavi/Jakafi, ruxolitinib is administered orally. This allows it to be absorbed into the bloodstream and have a systemic effect on the body. It can affect various cells in the body, including those involved in conditions like myelofibrosis and polycythemia vera ¹.

Topical administration of ruxolitinib, such as in Opzelura, mainly affects the specific area where it is applied. This localized treatment can be effective for skin conditions like eczema or vitiligo. It does not affect other parts of the body.

Opzelura alternatives until the medicine comes to the European market

Even though you can’t use Jakavi instead of Opzelura, you may not need to wait until Opzelura is available on the market in your country.

Everyone.org can help you access medicines such as Opzelura, which are not (yet) widely available, as long as you have a prescription from your treating doctor. Contact us for more information.

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