New Treatments for Improving Low Blood Counts in Myelofibrosis Patients

Myelofibrosis (MF) is a rare bone marrow disorder that disrupts the body's ability to produce healthy blood cells. This often leads to severe anemia, low platelet counts, and an enlarged spleen. The treatment goals for myelofibrosis are increasing blood cell levels and preventing fibrosis progression. 

Two newly approved treatments; pacritinib (Vonjo) and momelotinib (Ojjaara) are targeted therapies designed to help patients with low blood cell counts.

Pacritinib is approved for patients with extremely low platelet counts. Meanwhile, momelotinib is intended for patients with anemia associated with myelofibrosis. While both improve spleen size, alleviate disease-related symptoms, and positively impact blood cell counts in some patients, choosing between the two can be challenging due to overlapping benefits and a lack of direct comparison through clinical trials.

A recent study presented at the 66th ASH conference examined the use of pacritinib and momelotinib among myelofibrosis patients to better understand their effectiveness, impact on blood counts, and overall outcomes.

Study Methods

The analysis included 50 myelofibrosis patients treated with pacritinib or momelotinib at Moffitt Cancer Center in Florida. Researchers gathered data on treatment history, demographics, blood counts, genetic mutations, and transfusion needs. Patients were monitored over time to assess changes in blood cell levels, transfusion requirements, and treatment duration.

Study’s Key Findings

Momelotinib vs Ruxolitinib

Hemoglobin levels improved significantly more in patients transitioning from ruxolitinib (another myelofibrosis treatment) than in those who had not used it recently.

Final thoughts

Both pacritinib and momelotinib offer valuable options for myelofibrosis patients experiencing cytopenias. Pacritinib is more suited for patients with low platelet counts, while momelotinib shows particular benefits for patients with anemia and prior exposure to ruxolitinib.

Although both treatments improve blood counts and reduce transfusion dependence, momelotinib demonstrated a longer treatment duration and better survival outcomes. However, further research is needed to define optimal treatment strategies, especially through larger, multi-center studies. 

Studies like this mark an important step toward personalized treatment approaches for myelofibrosis patients. If you have further questions about whether any of these therapies are suitable for you, it’s best to talk to your healthcare team to determine the most suitable treatment based on your individual circumstances and medical history.

If you want to read more about treatment advances, clinical trial updates and conference highlights, you can bookmark the HealthTree News page to browse our articles, written just for you! 

Keep Reading More Myelofibrosis Articles

Source: 

• Post-Approval Utilization of Pacritinib and Momelotinib in Patients with Myelofibrosis and Analysis of Early Treatment Outcomes