Dr. Harrison on Unmet Needs in Myelofibrosis

Claire Harrison, MD, FRCP, FRCPath, professor of myeloproliferative neoplasms, clinical director, NHS Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, discusses current unmet needs in myelofibrosis.

Several unmet needs remain in the treatment of patients with myelofibrosis, including the lack of treatments available for low-risk patients who are diagnosed with myelofibrosis, a cancer that shortens their life expectancy, Harrison says. Moreover, available treatments are not wholly effective for patients with myelofibrosis and, aside from bone marrow transplants, do not modify the disease, Harrison explain. Moreover, these limited treatment options are associated with shortcomings and the median duration of response for many of the treatments is 3 years, Harrison adds.

Although fedratinib (Inrebic) is FDA approved for use a second-line therapy for patients with myelofibrosis, patients will likely experience disease progression while on the agent, Harrison says.