ASH 2020 | Momelotinib vs. ruxolitinib in myelofibrosis patients with thrombocytopenia

Jean-Jacques Kiladjian, MD, PhD, Saint-Louis Hospital and Paris Diderot University, Paris, France, discusses a retrospective analysis of the SIMPLIFY-1 (NCT01969838) and SIMPLIFY-2 (NCT02101268) studies, aiming to assess the efficacy of momelotinib (MMB) and ruxolitinib in patients with intermediate- and high-risk myelofibrosis (MF) with thrombocytopenia. The Phase III simplify trials, previously reported, showed that MMB gave comparable splenic and symptomatic benefits to the standard of care ruxolitinib in MF, with the additional ability to restore iron homeostasis and red blood cell production. This post-hoc analysis in patients with a baseline platelet count below 150 × 109/L found that momelotinib reduced spleen volume and symptom burden comparably to the whole population. Whereas, splenic responses and symptom reduction were significantly decreased in those with low platelet counts treated with ruxolitinib compared to the overall cohort. These findings suggest MMB could become the optimal JAK inhibitor therapy for this patient group. This interview took place during the 62nd American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting and Exposition, 2020.