Jean-Jacques Kiladjian, MD, PhD, describes updated results presented at the European Hematology Association 2021 Virtual Congress from the phase 3 SIMPLIFY-1 trial of momelotinib vs ruxolitinib in JAK inhibitor–naïve patients with myelofibrosis.
Jean-Jacques Kiladjian, MD, PhD, discusses data from the following presentation:
Improved Transfusion Independence Rates for Momelotinib vs Ruxolitinib in Anemic JAKi Naïve Myelofibrosis Patients are Independent of Baseline Platelet or Transfusion Status (Kiladjian, EHA 2021, EP1081)
The objective of this study is to report transfusion independence results from the SIMPLIFY-1 trial (NCT01969838) in JAK inhibitor–naïve patients with myelofibrosis who were treated with momelotinib (MMB) vs ruxolitinib (RUX).
Phase 3, double-blind trial with 1:1 randomization to MMB or RUX (N = 432)
MMB is an inhibitor of JAK1, JAK2, and ACVR1/ALK2; RUX is a JAK1 and JAK2 inhibitor
Previously reported results:
Week 24 (W24) transfusion independence (TI) response rate: 67% on MMB vs 49% on RUX
Median overall survival: 53 months in the RUX arm, not reached in the MMB arm
Results
Treatment with MMB resulted in higher TI rates vs RUX in all patient subsets with baseline (BL) hemoglobin (Hgb) ≤ 14 g/dL, and in all subsets defined by BL platelets (PLTs) and by BL transfusion status.
W24 TI rate by BL Hgb:
< 8 g/dL: 29% MMB vs 18% RUX
< 10 g/dL: 47% MMB vs 27% RUX
< 12 g/dL: 62% MMB vs 37% RUX
≤ 14 g/dL: 67% MMB vs 46% RUX
> 14 g/dL: 64% MMB vs 89% RUX
W24 TI rate by BL PLTs
< 150 x 109/L: 62% MMB vs 43% RUX
< 300 x 109/L: 68% MMB vs 48% RUX
≥ 300 x 109/L: 63% MMB vs 51% RUX
W24 TI rate by BL transfusion status
TI: 81% MMB vs 62% RUX
Transfusion requiring (neither transfusion dependent [TD] nor TI): 53% MMB vs 31% RUX
TD: 30% MMB vs 17% RUX
Conclusions
Data suggest that an MMB-mediated TI response at week 24 is associated with a survival advantage.
These data support the potential benefit of MMB’s ACVR1/ALK2 inhibitor activity in addition to inhibiting JAK1 and JAK2.