Results of a recent clinical trial show that lower-risk myelodysplastic syndromes patients treated with Nplate have fewer bleeding problems, require fewer platelet transfusions, and are more likely to have increased platelet counts than patients treated with a placebo.

However, the trial investigators also found transient increases in immature blood cell counts and a higher risk for progression to acute myeloid leukemia in patients treated with Nplate.

They therefore decided to discontinue treatment with Nplate.

The results of the trial also have been reflected in important warnings that have been added…

The American Society of Hematology (ASH) 2011 annual meeting is currently being held in San Diego. This article will summarize the myelodysplastic syndromes-related highlights from Saturday, the first full day of the conference, and Sunday, the second day of the meeting.

Day 1

Saturday started off with an education session on myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) that consisted of three talks. The program was repeated in the afternoon.  

The day ended with a large poster session, during which study results from hundreds of blood disorder-related studies were displayed on big posters…

This year’s American Society of Hematology meeting took place last week in Orlando.  December 4 was the first full day of the conference, and it included several talks as well as a poster session related to myelodysplastic syndromes.

Education Program

The first myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS)-related event was an education program in the afternoon.  The same session was also held Sunday morning.

First, Dr. Guillermo Garcia-Manero from the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston spoke about prognostic scoring systems for MDS.  He said that it is important for physicians to explain…

A Phase 2 study of Nplate in myelodysplastic syndromes patients resulted in increased platelet levels in patients, independent of dosing schedule and route of administration. However, differences in duration of response and side effects led researchers to recommend under-the-skin injection of 750 μg once weekly as the Nplate starting dose schedule for myelodysplastic syndromes patients.

Low platelet levels (thrombocytopenia) are present in 40 percent to 65 percent of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) patients.  Low platelet levels are an inherent problem in many MDS patients and can also be caused by MDS…

Results from a recent Phase 2 study suggest that Nplate may improve platelet counts in myelodysplastic syndromes patients during Vidaza treatment.

Nplate (romiplostim) mimics thrombopoietin, a protein that stimulates the production of platelets. Researchers hope that Nplate can be developed into an alternative for platelet transfusions, which can have side effects including allergic reaction and infection.

About 60 percent of patients treated with Vidaza (azacitadine) experience severely low platelet counts. Therefore, researchers wanted to study whether Nplate would raise platelet counts during Vidaza treatment.

The researchers divided 40 low- or…