Dr. Gerds on Future Treatment of Patients With Myeloproliferative Neoplasms

Aaron Gerds, MD, discusses the future treatment of patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) through the use of JAK-STAT pathway.

The JAK inhibitors, fedratinib (Inrebic) and ruxolitinib (Jakafi), have recently been approved by the FDA for the treatment of patients with intermediate-2 or high-risk primary or secondary (post-polycythemia vera) myelofibrosis. Hydroxyurea has been a common therapy for patients with myelofibrosis and PV. For patients who have not responded to hydroxyurea, fedratinib and ruxolitinib offer a second-line therapy option.

The availability of fedratinib and ruxolitinib in the MPN treatment landscape will serve as the backbone of future research, Gerds concludes.