A closely watched bid by Incyte Corp. to tackle acute graft-vs.-host-disease (GVHD) with the JAK1 inhibitor itacitinib has fallen flat in pivotal testing, leaving analysts skeptical about the drug's future and pessimistic about the company's R&D chops.

With Incyte Corp. expecting data from a trio of phase III trials across chronic and acute graft-vs.-host disease (GVHD) and the indication's treatment paradigm continuing to evolve, investors have begun paying more heed to clinical efforts underway by firms trying varied approaches.