Imetelstat for treating relapsed or refractory intermediate-2 or high-risk myelofibrosis after janus kinase inhibitor treatment

Imetelstat is in clinical development for the treatment of intermediate-2 or high-risk myelofibrosis (MF) in patients who are relapsed (the disease has come back) or refractory (the disease has stopped responding to a treatment) to Janus-Kinase (JAK) inhibitor treatment. MF is a rare blood cancer that causes scarring of the bone marrow which makes it more difficult to produce blood cells. As MF progresses, symptoms might include tiredness, shortness of breath, pain and discomfort in the abdomen, bone pain, and very itchy skin. The exact cause of MF is not known. JAK inhibition is used as a first line treatment for intermediate to high-risk MF. However, it is not uncommon for patients to lose response to JAK inhibition over time. Survival following discontinuation are poor, and there is currently no standard treatment approach for patients who are relapsed/refractory to JAK inhibitors. There is therefore an unmet need for additional treatment options for this population.