Rami Komrokji, MD, of Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Florida, presented an update at the 2025 European Hematology Association Congress in Milan on imetelstat in lower-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS).
In the poster abstract, titled, “Outcomes with imetelstat by serum erythropoietin levels in patients with lower-risk myelodysplastic syndromes who were treatment naive or who had prior treatment with erythropoiesis-stimulating agents,” investigators reported a pooled analysis from the IMerge trial focused on ESA-naive patients with high endogenous serum erythropoietin (EPO) levels.
These patients, approximately 10% of lower-risk MDS cases, typically respond poorly to ESAs or luspatercept. Dr. Komrokji reported that response rates in this group were comparable to other cohorts, supporting imetelstat’s role in this patient setting. The findings align with NCCN guideline recommendations for imetelstat in this subgroup, Dr. Komrokji noted.
