In myelofibrosis, scar tissue forms in the bone marrow and hinders the body’s ability to produce healthy blood cells. Anemia, a lack of red blood cells to carry oxygen throughout the body, is observed in virtually all MF patients and negatively impacts survival, Dr. Mesa said.
“A third of the patients have anemia up front, and most patients will develop it over the course of their disease,” Dr. Mesa said.
“For patients with severe anemia, survival is shortened to about two years. Even with mild anemia, the median survival is 4.9 years. A drug to treat anemia in these patients has been urgently needed.”
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Without anemia, median survival with MF is closer to eight years, he said.
Myelofibrosis features abnormal signaling of JAK proteins and excessive activation of another protein, ACVR1. Pioneering MF drugs developed over the last decade, such as ruxolitinib, inhibit the harmful JAK signaling, whereas momelotinib is the first drug that inhibits both JAK and ACVR1, Dr. Mesa said.
“It has JAK1, JAK2, and ACVR1 inhibitors in one drug and addresses chronic inflammation due to the hyperactivation of ACVR1 as a consequence of the disease,” Dr. Mesa said.
Of the enrolled participants, 130 received momelotinib and 65 danazol. Participants did not know until after 24 weeks which drug they received, and those in the danazol group were allowed to cross over to momelotinib at that time.
In the momelotinib group:
“The results were compelling,” Dr. Mesa said. “The study enrolled participants entirely during the COVID time frame, which was remarkable. Momelotinib met all primary and secondary endpoints and within the short span of six months, there was a trend toward overall survival benefit, which is also remarkable.
“Findings support the future use of momelotinib as an effective treatment in MF patients, especially in those with anemia,” Dr. Mesa concluded.
The MOMENTUM study was sponsored by Sierra Oncology of San Mateo, Calif.
Source: Medindia
