Luspatercept Can Improve Anemia and Reduce Transfusion Dependency in MDS

Luspatercept, also known as Reblozyl (BMS), is a medication used to treat MDS patients with anemia to lower the number of transfusions needed. 

Luspatercept is a modified protein that acts on late-stage red blood cell production. It is suited for treating conditions in which late-stage red blood cell production is defective, such as beta-thalassemia and other myelodysplastic diseases. It was first approved in the United States in November 2019 for treating anemia in patients with beta-thalassemia who require regular blood transfusions. In 2020 it received FDA approval for low-risk MDS patients with anemia. 

Which Patients Can Take Luspatercept?

Luspatercept is a medication that can be given as an injection under the skin (subcutaneous) in the upper arm, thigh, or stomach. It has only been approved for adult patients over 18 years old and cannot be given during pregnancy. 

There are specific conditions that luspatercept is indicated for: 

• Adults with very low- to intermediate-risk MDS who may require regular red blood cell transfusions
• Adults with very low- to intermediate-risk MDS with ring sideroblasts or with myelodysplastic/myeloproliferative neoplasm with ring sideroblasts and high platelet counts. Luspatercept can be used in these patients for treating anemia that did not improve with a stimulating agent for red blood cell production and require transfusion of two or more red blood cell units over eight weeks. 

  What are the Common Side Effects of Luspatercept? 

Every medication has a side effect label listing possible side effects. This doesn’t necessarily mean that patients will experience all of the listed effects, but it’s a caution label to explain why a patient may present some symptoms after receiving the medication.  

Common side effects of luspatercept include:

• Tiredness, back, joint, muscle, or bone pain, joint pain, swelling of hands, legs, or feet
• High blood pressure
• Nausea, diarrhea, stomach pain
• Cough, trouble breathing
• Other: headache, dizziness, swelling of hands, legs, or feet, allergic reactions

What Did Luspatercept's Clinical Trials Find?

 The MEDALIST study evaluated patients taking luspatercept and concluded that the medication helped achieve transfusion independence and reduce transfusion burden (side effects and negative aspects of transfusion therapy) in patients with MDS. 

The COMMANDS trial is a phase 3 study of patients with low-risk transfusion-dependent MDS, with or without ring sideroblasts. Treatment with luspatercept doubled the chances of not depending on transfusions. Patients also increased their hemoglobin level compared with epoetin alfa, a red blood cell production-stimulating agent widely used to treat this condition.

Are There Any Ongoing Clinical Trials for Luspatercept?

Yes! You can create a free account in HealthTree Cure Hub to use our clinical trial finder and filter according to your preferences to find the right clinical trial for you. 
Currently, in 2024, there are 16 studies enrolling patients with MDS and using luspatercept. 

One of them is the ELEMENT-MDS, a study that compares the efficacy and safety of luspatercept in patients with MDS and anemia who are not receiving blood transfusions. 

A Phase Ib/II study of the combination of luspatercept and lenalidomide is also enrolling patients with lower-risk MDS without deletion 5q. The goal is to prove if the combination can further improve anemia treatment in this subgroup of MDS patients. 

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Sources:

• COMMANDS Trial: First-Line Luspatercept Boosts Chance of Transfusion Independence in Lower-Risk MDS
• Role of Luspatercept in the Management of Lower-Risk Myelodysplastic Syndromes
• Phase III COMMANDS Trial Explores Luspatercept as First-line Agent in MD