Tag Archives: momelotinib

MAIC Points to Improved OS With Momelotinib in Ruxolitinib-Pretreated Myelofibrosis

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December 13, 2024

Author(s): Caroline Seymour, Kyle Doherty

Fact checked by: Courtney Flaherty

Momelotinib (Ojjaara) demonstrated improved overall survival (OS) vs best available therapy (BAT) in patients with ruxolitinib (Jakafi)–pretreated myelofibrosis, according to data from a matching-adjusted indirect comparison (MAIC) analysis that were presented at the 2024 ASH Annual Meeting & Exposition.1

Data from an unmatched analysis demonstrated that the median OS favored patients who received momelotinib (n = 383) compared with those who received BAT (n = 267; HR, 0.373; 95% CI, 0.297-0.469; P < .001). In the base case model (model 1), the median OS also favored momelotinib (n = 89) vs BAT (HR, 0.512; HR, 0.358-0.732; P < .001). In the alternative adjustment model (model 2), the median OS again favored momelotinib (n = 117) vs BAT (HR, 0.484; 95% CI, 0.347-0.675; P < .001).

Additionally, patients in the anemia subgroup who received momelotinib (n = 255) experienced a median OS benefit compared with those treated with BAT (n = 174; HR, 0.384; 95% CI, 0.293-0.504; P < .001). Data from model 1 also showed that patients treated with momelotinib in this subgroup (n = 98) achieved a median OS benefit vs those in the BAT arm (HR, 0.542; 95% CI, 0.387-0.759; P < .001). Findings from model 2 demonstrated a median OS benefit with momelotinib (n = 146) vs BAT (HR, 0.487; 95% CI, 0.360-0.660; P < .001).

“[Although] the trials used in this analysis do no provide long-term outcomes, this MAIC suggests that momelotinib may offer a greater OS benefit than BAT in patients with myelofibrosis previously treated with ruxolitinib, both in the overall cohort and the anemic population,” Francesca Palandri, MD, PhD, lead study author and an adjunct professor in the Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences at the University of Bologna in Italy, said in a poster presentation of the data.

In September 2023, the FDA approved momelotinib for the treatment of adult patients with intermediate or high-risk myelofibrosis, including primary myelofibrosis or secondary myelofibrosis, and anemia.2 The regulatory decision was supported by findings from the phase 3 MOMENTUM (NCT04173494) and SIMPLIFY-1 trials (NCT01969838).

To conduct their analysis, Palandri and colleagues performed a MAIC analysis comparing patients who received momelotinib during MOMENTUM, SIMPLIFY-1, or the phase 3 SIMPLIFY-2 trial (NCT02101268) with 267 patients who received BAT across 26 European hematology centers in the real-world, retrospective RUX-MF study.1 Notably, the overall study included 1055 patients treated with ruxolitinib across 26 European hematology centers from 2013 until death or the data cutoff of February 2, 2024.

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Pacritinib and Momelotinib Display Positive Real-World Impact on Anemia and Transfusion Needs in Myelofibrosis

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December 12, 2024

Author(s): Kyle Doherty

Fact checked by: Caroline Seymour

Although long-term follow-up was limited, treatment with the JAK2 inhibitors pacritinib (Vonjo) and/or momelotinib (Ojjaara) led to favorable effects on anemia and transfusion requirements among patients with myelofibrosis, according to findings from a real-world study presented in a poster during the 2024 ASH Annual Meeting.1

Patients who received momelotinib (n = 32) had a median hemoglobin count of 8.7 g/dL (range, 6.5-1.2) at the start of therapy which increased to 9.0 g/dL after 3 months of treatment (P = .021). The median platelet count at the start of therapy was 141 x 109/L (range 15 x 109-504 x 109) and increased to 116 x 109/L after 3 months (P = .317). Patients required a mean of 1.9 red blood cell (RBC) units/month at the start of therapy and 0.47 units/month after 3 months of treatment (P = .015).

Patients treated with pacritinib (n = 27) had a median hemoglobin count of 8.5 g/dL (range, 6.9-12.9) at the start of treatment and a median count of 9.1 g/dL following 3 months of therapy (P = .402). The median platelet count at the start of therapy was 65 x 109/L(range, 18 x 109-441 x 109) compared with 31 x 109/L after 3 months of treatment (P = .303). Patients required a mean of 2.4 RBC units/month at the start of therapy vs 0.75 RBC units/month after 3 months of therapy (P = .099).

“The goal of this project was to [examine] the patients who have been treated so far at Moffitt Cancer Center with either pacritinib and/or momelotinib to gain a better understanding of the hematologic responses of these therapies, the duration of treatment, and other real-world data regarding these agents after they got their approvals,” Jeremy DiGennaro, MD, said during the presentation. “Patients receiving momelotinib and pacritinib are typically older with extended disease duration, multiple prior lines of therapy, high-risk mutations, and cytopenia. Pacritinib-treated patients have more prominent baseline thrombocytopenia. [However], there were favorable impacts on anemia and transfusion requirements [with both agents], although we still do need more long-term follow-up.”

DiGennaro is an internal medicine resident physician at the University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine in Tampa.

In February 2022, the FDA granted accelerated approval to pacritinib for the treatment of adult patients with intermediate or high-risk primary or secondary myelofibrosis with a platelet count below 50,000/µL.2 Momelotinib was approved by the FDA in September 2023 for the treatment of adult patients with intermediate or high-risk myelofibrosis, including primary myelofibrosis or secondary myelofibrosis, and anemia.3

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Ojjaara (momelotinib) approved in Canada for the treatment of myelofibrosis in adults who have moderate to severe anemia

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  • Ojjaara (momelotinib) is the only approved treatment for newly diagnosed and previously treated myelofibrosis patientsi who have moderate to severe anemia and other key manifestations associated with the disease.ii
  • This approval underscores GSK’s commitment to help drive progress for people living with complex blood cancers.

MISSISSAUGA, ON, Nov. 12, 2024 /CNW/ – GSK announced today that Health Canada has approved Ojjaara (momelotinib) for the treatment of splenomegaly and/or disease-related symptoms, in adult patients with intermediate or high-risk primary myelofibrosis (MF), post polycythemia vera MF or post essential thrombocythemia MF who have moderate to severe anemia.iii Ojjaara is the first and only approved medication globally, and now in Canada, that treats both the anemia and other key manifestations of myelofibrosis (newly diagnosed and previously treated).iv

“Treatment options for myelofibrosis-related anemia have been limited. We are proud to offer this treatment alternative for Canadian patients to address this critical unmet need and other myelofibrosis symptoms. With most myelofibrosis patients becoming anemic over time, Ojjaara’s approval represents a significant milestone to improve the outcomes of these patients while also highlighting GSK’s commitment to making an impact in Canada’s hematology oncology space through innovative new treatments,” said Michelle Horn, Interim Country Medical Director, GSK Canada.

Myelofibrosis is a rare blood cancer part of the broader myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) diseases. MPNs have an incidence rate of 2.05 new cases per 100,000 Canadians.v Currently there are between 1,400-2,177 estimated people living with this type of disease in Canada.vi Anemia is a common symptom of myelofibrosis and a major unmet needvii, but awareness among Canadians is low. A 2024 survey shows that 90% of Canadians have heard of anemia but almost 50 per cent do not know about blood cancer related anemia.viii Canadians also have low knowledge of anemia with over 40 per cent of the same respondents saying they know little to nothing about this condition.ix

“Anemia and related transfusions significantly affect the quality of life, prognosis and survival for anemic myelofibrosis patients,” said Cheryl Petruk, CEO of HEAL Canada. “We are excited to witness progress in this rare disease space and to see Ojjaara approved in Canada. This new treatment has the potential to help improve the lives of patients while addressing the disease’s main challenges, namely anemia and other major symptoms.”

Ojjaara is the only once-a-day, oral JAK1/JAK2 and activin A receptor type 1 (ACVR1) inhibitor.x The approval of Ojjaara by Health Canada is supported by data from the pivotal MOMENTUM Phase III trial, which demonstrated significant improvements in Total Symptom Score (TSS), Transfusion Independence, and Splenic Response Rate.xi Additional support came from a subset of patients in the SIMPLIFY-1 Phase III trial, reinforcing Ojjaara’s efficacy in treating moderate to severe anemia and related symptoms in myelofibrosis patients.xii

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Dr Klisovic on a Case Discussion of Momelotinib in Myelofibrosis With Anemia

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October 16, 2024

Author(s): Rebecca Klisovic, MD

Fact checked by: Ashling Wahner, Ryan Scott

Rebecca Klisovic, MD, chief medical information officer, University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center, discusses 3 case studies about patients with myelofibrosis that were presented during an OncLive® State of the Science Summit™ on hematologic oncology, which she chaired.

The first case that was discussed was on a 71-year-old male patient with newly diagnosed myelofibrosis with splenomegaly, mild anemia, a high symptom burden, and intermediate-2–risk disease, Klisovic begins. The consensus among the panelists was that this patient required treatment due to his spleen size, symptoms, and anemia, she says. Although some oncologists who participated in the discussion considered using ruxolitinib (Jakafi) because of its early survival data, the panel predominantly favored momelotinib (Ojjaara), given this agent’s potential benefit in patients with anemia, she explains.

The second case was on a 62-year-old female patient with myelofibrosis who had already received ruxolitinib and had comorbidities including symptom scoring and a large spleen, according to Klisovic. This patient also had anemia, with a hemoglobin level of 7.2 g/dL, she reports. Therefore, the focus on improving anemia made momelotinib a clear treatment choice in this setting, she adds. Whereas other case presentations prompted treatment debates between the panelists, this case was more clear cut, especially since this patient was refractory to ruxolitinib, Klisovic emphasizes.

The third case was on a 54-year-old female patient with newly diagnosed myelofibrosis that was characterized by both anemia and thrombocytopenia, as well as a platelet count of 34/µL, Klisovic says. This discussion centered around the use of pacritinib vs momelotinib, informed by the patient’s low platelet count, she explains. Some discussants raised concerns about the patient’s eligibility for momelotinib clinical trials, which have enrollment criteria with varying platelet cutoffs, she notes. Despite these concerns, most participants favored the use of pacritinib (Vonjo) due to this agent’s efficacy in managing thrombocytopenia, she reports. However, some discussants noted that momelotinib could also be a viable treatment option for patients similar to the one in this case, depending on clinical trial criteria and individual patient factors, she concludes.

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Bose’s Guide to Ruxolitinib, Fedratinib, Pacritinib, and Momelotinib

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By Prithviraj Bose, MD

Prithviraj Bose, MD, professor in the Department of Leukemia at MD Anderson Cancer Center, provides an overview of the different JAK inhibitors currently available for patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms.

Transcription:

0:09 | We have 4 JAK inhibitors approved for the treatment of myelofibrosis in the US. Important to note, pacritinib [Vonjo] is not approved outside the US. There is obviously a lot to say on this topic, especially, ruxolitinib [Jakafi] was approved in 2011, fedratinib [Inrebic] in 2019 and then pacritinib and momelotinib [Ojjaara], more recently, 2022 and 2023. But I think I will just hit some high points.

0:36 | So for ruxolitinib, the first thing I would say about that is that it is the JAK inhibitor with the most clearly demonstrated survival benefit in myelofibrosis. Now, is that an effect just of ruxolitinib and not of the others? We do not know that. It could be a class effect, but the data are the data and the data are that ruxolitinib is the one that has a clearly shown survival benefit. I think that needs to be considered as we use it, and it is usually the most frequently used frontline drug. Now, where you can get into trouble with ruxolitinib is with cytopenias, low blood counts, and this is a drug that you need to be able to dose well in order to get the benefit that you are seeking. The dose can get compromised by cytopenias.

1:29 | That is where I will tie that into the entry of pacritinib and momelotinib. These are easier to use in the setting of cytopenias. In fact, pacritinib has a label for platelets than 50, and momelotinib is for patients with anemia in myelofibrosis. So right there, you can see that they sort of have their place more in that cytopenic population, which could be frontline, or, more commonly, second-line, after ruxolitinib. I think those are great additions in the sense that you can give them at good doses despite low blood counts, which becomes difficult with ruxolitinib, like I just said. [They are] certainly very welcome additions to the arsenal.

2:12 | I will just say 1 last thing about fedratinib, which was the second one approved. This is a good drug, perhaps as good as ruxolitinib from an efficacy stand point, but really with no clear advantage over ruxolitinib. So, I do not use it in the frontline. I do use it, however, in post-ruxolitinib settings, where the blood counts are good. In those proliferative scenarios, as opposed to the cytopenic scenarios, in second-line and beyond, I do find fedratinib to be a useful drug. It has some toxicities that one has to pay attention to. All patients should get thiamine supplementation, stuff like that, but overall, I would say those are the kind of very high level points about the 4 drugs.

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Momelotinib May Improve Survival and Quality of Life in MF

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August 30, 2024

Leonardo Jaimes

Momelotinib appears to positively impact quality of life and overall survival in patients with myelofibrosis (MF), according to a recently published study in Frontiers in Oncology.

Most MF cases are associated with JAK or CALR mutations, which lead to an uncontrolled proliferation of stem cells and a decrease in the production of red blood cells (RBCs) and thrombocytes, the researchers noted.

Stem cell transplantation is currently the only curative alternative available for patients with MF. The advent of JAK inhibitors represented a significant advancement in symptom management, but patients often observed decreased efficacy after 3 years.

Anemia is largely responsible for the decrease in quality of life seen in patients with MF and represents an important cause of treatment discontinuation, as some of the treatments used in MF can contribute to the development of anemia.

“Anemia in MF is a complex condition resulting from factors such as displacement of erythropoietic tissue by fibrotic stroma, suboptimal environments in extramedullary sites, and splenomegaly-induced RBC sequestration,” the authors wrote.

Momelotinib is an effective JAK1/2 inhibitor that can successfully treat anemia in patients with MF, decreasing the need for transfusions. It can also prevent hepcidin synthesis, which in turn leads to increased iron circulation and increased erythropoiesis.

The effectiveness of momelotinib is supported by the results of the MOMENTUM trial; the double-blind included almost 200 patients who received either momelotinib or danazol to treat MF-associated anemia.  Results showed that patients who received were significantly less likely to require blood transfusions and have better Total Symptom Score than their counterparts.

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Momelotinib Improves Anemia in JAK Inhibitor-Naive Myelofibrosis

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Sabrina Serani

Treatment with momelotinib (Ojjaara) delivered benefits to anemia among patients with myelofibrosis who were naive to JAK inhibitors, regardless of their baseline hemoglobin level. Further, momelotinib provided significant anemia benefits compared with ruxoltinib (Jakafi), according to an analysis from the phase 3 SIMPLIFY-1 study (NCT01969838).

SIMPLIFY-3 randomized 432 patients with myelofibrosis who had not received JAK inhibitors toreceive momelotinib or ruxolitinib.In patients who were anemic and received momelotinib, mean hemoglobin levels increased by weeks 2 to 4 of treatment, and hemoglobin levels remained stable among patients who were not anemic.

Comparatively, patients who were anemic and nonanemictreated with ruxolitinib experienced an initial decrease in mean hemoglobin. This decrease stabilized after weeks 4 to 6 as patients received red blood cell transfusions. Patients receiving ruxolitinib were permitted to cross over to the momelotinib group, and mean hemoglobin levels increased after this change.

The study also evaluated patients at different levels of anemia. Among patient who were mildly anemic, with ahemoglobin levelbetween 10 and 12 g/dL, 90.4% of patients were transfusion-free at baseline, 93.9% of these patients remained transfusion-free while receiving momelotinib. Four patients who were not transfusion-free at baseline became transfusion-free while on treatment. In contrast, patients who were mildly anemic in the ruxolitinib arm became more dependent on transfusion; 50% of patients who were transfusion-free at baseline required a transfusion while on ruxolitinib.

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Dr Sekeres on the Rationale for the FDA Approval of Momelotinib in Myelofibrosis

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Mikkael A. Sekeres, MD, MS

Mikkael A. Sekeres, MD, MS, professor, medicine, chief, Division of Hematology, Leukemia Section, the University of Miami Health System, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, discusses the background on the FDA approval of momelotinib (Ojjaara) for the treatment of patients with anemic myelofibrosis.

At a recent OncLive® State of the Science Summit™ on hematologic malignancies, Sekeres and colleagues provided updates in the realm of myelodysplastic syndromes. Notably, one of these updates includes the FDA approval of momelotinib for the treatment of adult patients with intermediate or high-risk myelofibrosis with anemia. Originally, the phase 3 SIMPLIFY-1 (NCT01969838) and SIMPLIFY-2 (NCT02101268) trials investigated momelotinib compared with ruxolitinib (Jakafi) and momelotinib compared with best available therapy, respectively, Sekeres begins. In SIMPLIFY-2, although patients receiving momelotinib didn’t show a significant improvement in spleen response, they experienced a notable enhancement in symptom score, a benefit that is crucial for patients with myelofibrosis, he reports.

Subsequently, the phase 3 MOMENTUM trial (NCT04173494) was initiated, randomly assigning symptomatic patients with myelofibrosis in a 2:1 ratio to receive either momelotinib or danazol. Notably, significant improvement in symptom scores was observed with momelotinib, Sekeres states, saying that furthermore, substantial improvement in spleen size reduction was noted, forming the basis for momelotinib’s FDA approval. Additionally, there was a trend toward enhanced red blood cell transfusion independence rates among patients, Sekeres adds.

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Utilization of Momelotinib for Myelofibrosis With Anemia Can Result in Small Savings

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Laura Joszt, MA

Although momelotinib to treat myelofibrosis (MF) with anemia has a higher acquisition cost, it is partially offset by savings when transfusion-related costs are reduced, according to a poster being presented at the AMCP Annual Conference, held April 15-18, 2024, in New Orleans, Louisiana.1

MF is a rare cancer in the bone marrow that disrupts the production of blood cells.2 MF causes anemia because of the extensive scarring to bone marrow. This extensive scarring also causes patients to have a low number of platelets, increasing their risk of bleeding. Patients may also have an enlarged spleen.

Momelotinib inhibits Janus kinase (JAK) 1, JAK2, and activin A receptor type 1. In September 2023, the FDA approved momelotinib to treat patients with intermediate- or high-risk MF with anemia.3

The approval of momelotinib was based on data from the phase 3 MOMENTUM trial, which found clinically significant improvements for patients treated with momelotinib vs danazol.4 A quarter of patients treated with momelotinib had a 50% or greater reduction in total symptom score compared with only 16% of patients on danazol.

Since the approval, the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) has added momelotinib5 to its Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology for Myeloproliferative Neoplasms. Momelotinib was added as a category 2A treatment for patients with high-risk MF. It was also added as a 2B category treatment for patients with lower-risk MF.

Patients with MF who have anemia and are dependent on transfusions have increased medical costs and poor prognosis, the authors of the AMCP poster noted. JAK inhibitors may provide improvements in symptoms and spleen size, but they could worsen or induce anemia. However, momelotinib has been shown to reduce spleen size.4

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Momelotinib for myelofibrosis: our 14 years of experience with 100 clinical trial patients and recent FDA approval

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Ayalew Tefferi & Animesh Pardanani

Momelotinib is an ATP-competitive small molecule inhibitor of Janus kinase proteins (JAKi), including JAK1, JAK2, JAK3, and TYK2; its other clinically relevant targets include activin A receptor type 1 (ACVR1), also known as activin receptor like kinase 2 (ALK2) [1]. Momelotinib was recently approved (September 15, 2023) for use in anemic patients with high/intermediate risk myelofibrosis (MF), including primary (PMF) [2] and secondary variants, the latter emerging from antecedent polycythemia vera (post-PV) [3] or essential thrombocythemia (post-ET) [4]. All three MF variants belong to the broader category of myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs), which are characterized by the presence of JAK-STAT activating mutations (JAK2, CALR or MPL) and predominantly megakaryocytic myeloproliferation with variable degrees of bone marrow fibrosis [5]. Patients with MF face premature death with 10-year survival estimates ranging from >80% in very low-risk diseases to <5% in very high-risk diseases [6]. In addition, the clinical course of the disease in MF is complicated by progressive anemia, extramedullary hematopoiesis with marked splenomegaly and hepatomegaly, constitutional symptoms, and cachexia. Causes of death in MF include disease transformation into acute myeloid leukemia [7].

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