Is Ruxolitinib legal in the United Kingdom?

An approved JAK1 and JAK2 inhibitor that suppressed the senescence-associated secretory phenotype and improved physical function in aged mice. Its entire human evidence base is in myelofibrosis, where it shrinks spleens; the topical form carries a boxed warning for serious infections, mortality, malignancy, cardiovascular events and thrombosis.

Ruxolitinib is the clearest example of a senomorphic rather than a senolytic. A senolytic kills senescent cells.

Mechanism: Ruxolitinib inhibits Janus kinase 1 and Janus kinase 2, the intracellular kinases that transduce signals from a large family of cytokine receptors through the STAT transcription factors. Much of the senescence-associated secretory phenotype is produced and reinforced through that pathway, so blocking JAK1 and JAK2 quietens the secretions without killing the senescent cell.

Regulatory history: FDA-approved as Jakafi for myelofibrosis, polycythaemia vera and steroid-refractory acute and chronic graft-versus-host disease, and as Opzelura cream for atopic dermatitis and non-segmental vitiligo. Not approved for ageing, frailty or any senescence indication, and not in a registered trial for one.

Licenses medicines for the UK market. A compound without a marketing authorisation is an unlicensed medicine, which can only lawfully be supplied for human use through a prescriber under the specials scheme, not sold as a research product.

The classification above is the The Longevity Archive reading of Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency listings for Ruxolitinib at the reviewed date, not a legal opinion. Rules change, and importing, prescribing and possessing a compound can each be treated differently. Check the regulator directly before acting on anything here.