Key clinical point: Imetelstat increased transfusion independence for patients with lower risk myelodysplastic syndromes who were resistant or refractory to treatment with erythropoiesis-stimulating agent.
Major finding: At 8 weeks, 37% of the patients were red blood cell transfusion independent, with an average duration of 65 weeks.
Study details: The data come from a phase II study of 57 adult patients with lower-risk myelodysplastic syndromes dependent on red blood cell transfusion and relapsed or refractory to erythropoiesis-stimulating agent; patients received imetelstat with a primary endpoint of red blood cell transfusion independence at 8 weeks.
Disclosures: The study received no outside funding. The researchers had no financial conflicts to disclose.
Source: Steensma DP et al. J Clin Oncol. 2020 Oct 27. doi: 10.1200/JCO.20.01895.