Does imetelstat provide transfusion independence in lower-risk MDS?

During the 25th Congress of the European Hematology Association (EHA), the MDS Hub spoke to Uwe Platzbecker, Leipzig University Hospital, Leipzig, DE. We asked: Does imetelstat provide transfusion independence in lower-risk MDS?

Patients with lower-risk MDS are predominantly affected by anemia and require regular red blood cell transfusions. Currently, there are no treatment options for patients with lower-risk MDS other than enrollment into clinical trials. Here, Uwe Platzbecker discusses the phase II study evaluating the first-in-class telomerase inhibitor, imetelstat, for the treatment of patients with lower-risk MDS. Imetelstat has demonstrated promising disease-modifying activity in this set of patients.