Effect Of Luspatercept On Biomarkers Of Erythropoiesis In Patients (Pts) With Lower-Risk Myelodysplastic Syndromes (Lr-Mds) In The Medalist Trial

Introduction: LR-MDS are characterized by ineffective erythropoiesis that leads to anemia and red blood cell (RBC) transfusion dependence. Luspatercept is a first-in-class erythroid maturation agent that binds to select TGF-β superfamily ligands and enhances late-stage erythropoiesis. MEDALIST is a phase 3, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of luspatercept in pts with LR-MDS (IPSS-R-defined Very low-, Low-, and Intermediate-risk) with ring sideroblasts who required RBC transfusions and were ineligible for, intolerant of, or refractory to erythropoiesis-stimulating agents. Clinical benefit (CB; defined as RBC transfusion independence [RBC-TI] ≥ 8 weeks and/or modified hematologic improvement-erythroid [mHI-E] per IWG 2006 criteria) in the primary MEDALIST treatment phase (Weeks 1-24) was achieved by 58.2% of pts in the luspatercept arm and 21.1% in the placebo arm (P < 0.0001). The objective of the study was to investigate the effect of luspatercept treatment on erythropoiesis biomarkers and their relationship to CB in the primary MEDALIST treatment phase (Weeks 1-24).