On March 31st, 2018 roughly 100 hematologists/oncologists and MPN experts from Asia, as well as Europe and the United States, came together at the 3rd annual MPN Asia event to present and discuss recent updates and scientific advancements of Myeloproliferative Neoplasms. A few key takeaways from the event came from the Ropeginterferon vs Hydroxyurea trial. This randomized, 2-year study of Ropeginterferon and Hydroxyurea (HU) concluded that the patients on Ropeginterferon had a 50% decrease of the JAK2 burden as well as a sustained reduction in the allele burden. The Ropeginterferon patients also displayed lower progression rates to Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML), proving that the drug appears more effective than HU in the long run.
With that being said, Interferon currently stands alone as a medication that controls the biology of this disease. In an effort to change that, last year the MPN Research Foundation started an Interferon Initiative with the goal of understanding why Interferon works for MPN patients and why it works for some patients and not others. We are hopeful that soon the MPN community will have additional options for access to this medication.
Below is a video of Dr. Srdan Verstovsek speaking at MPN Asia 2018 about the results of the Ropeginterferon and Hydroxyurea study.
To watch more presentations from MPN Asia 2018, click here.