SOHO 2023 | Novel treatment options for LR-MDS and the importance of clinical trials in this space
In this video, Uwe Platzbecker, MD, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany, discusses novel agents being explored in lower-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (LR-MDS), including pyruvate kinase activators and agents targeting inflammatory pathways. Prof. Platzbecker comments on the recent approval of luspatercept as a first-line therapy, as well as the need for second- and third-line therapies for patients. Prof. Platzbecker also mentions ongoing investigations into combination therapies through early-phase clinical trials. This interview took place at the Eleventh Annual Meeting of the Society of Hematologic Oncology (SOHO 2023) held in Houston, TX.
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Transcript (edited for clarity)
Given the approval of luspatercept as a first-line therapy, I think that is a major step forward. But what we definitely need is good and safe second- or even third-line therapies for these patients. So I mentioned imetelstat already, which may become the new standard of care as a second-line therapy, but also other studies are exploring novel, including targeted agents in the segment of lower-risk MDS...
Given the approval of luspatercept as a first-line therapy, I think that is a major step forward. But what we definitely need is good and safe second- or even third-line therapies for these patients. So I mentioned imetelstat already, which may become the new standard of care as a second-line therapy, but also other studies are exploring novel, including targeted agents in the segment of lower-risk MDS. There are a couple I could mention here: pyruvate kinase activators, for instance, are explored in early Phase I and Phase II trials. But we also have agents targeting inflammatory pathways, which are also currently under investigation. So there are numerous early clinical trials, but also the concept of combining potentially luspatercept plus epo, for instance, or others I think have also caught the attention and are also being investigated currently. So I think the recent approval brings a lot of fresh air into the arena of lower-risk MDS, which is also good for our patients
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Disclosures
Grant support, paid to GWT-TUD, from Amgen; lecture fees and grant support, paid to the University of Leipzig, from Amgen; fees for serving on a steering committee, consulting fees, and travel support from Bristol Myers Squibb; grant support, paid to GWT-TUD, from Janssen Biotech; grant support, paid to University Dresden, from Merck and Novartis; lecture and consulting fees from Novartis; and consulting fees from AbbVie, Curis, and Geron.
