Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are associated with an erythroid maturation defect, and treatment of anemia in lower-risk MDS remains an unmet medical need. Here, Alan List, MD, of Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, discusses the Phase III MEDALIST Trial (NCT02631070) evaluating luspatercept, an erythroid maturation agent, for the treatment of anemia in patients with either very low, low, or intermediate risk MDS who require transfusion. Speaking from the American Society of Hematology (ASH) 2018 Annual Meeting and Exposition in San Diego, CA., Dr List reveals that treatment with luspatercept resulted in a significantly reduced transfusion burden vs. the placebo, and was generally well tolerated.