Dr. Mesa on New Trials and Agents in the Myelofibrosis Pipeline

Ruben A. Mesa, MD, director, UT Health San Antonio MD Anderson Cancer Center, discusses new trials and agents in the pipeline in myelofibrosis.

A study presented at the 2019 ASH Annual Meeting utilized the BET inhibitor, CPI-0610, alone or in combination with ruxolitinib (Jakafi) in patients with myelofibrosis. The BET inhibitor improved splenic response, symptom burden, anemia, and some degree of fibrosis. This was a multi-arm study that will now be entering a phase III trial, where it might be used in the frontline setting in combination with ruxolitinib, says Mesa.

Another study utilized an LSD1 inhibitor. This is still in the early stages, but similarly to CPI-0610, it showed activity in splenic response, symptom burden, anemia, and fibrosis.

Finally, data on luspatercept (Reblozyl) in combination with ruxolitinib was reported on as well. Luspatercept was found to improve anemia, an unmet need for patients with myelofibrosis. The approval of luspatercept in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome will likely make this an important therapeutic consideration, concludes Mesa.