The MDS Beacon™

Researchers have published results of a clinical study examining a five-day intravenous (IV) dosing regimen for Vidaza (azacitidine), a common treatment for myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS).

The researchers, based at Washington University in St. Louis, find that a five-day IV regimen yielded response rates and response durations similar to those reported for the standard seven-day subcutaneous Vidaza dosing regimen. At the same time, overall survival times for the five-day regimen were lower than observed in studies using the standard regimen.

Vidaza…

A Phase 3 study completed by the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group shows that lower-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) patients with anemia benefit from erythropoietin (EPO) treatments plus supportive care to increase their red blood cell counts, compared to patients who receive supportive care alone. The benefits are even higher when EPO is combined with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF).

EPO belongs to the group of erythropoiesis stimulating agents (ESAs), which help to increase the red blood cell count in MDS patients…