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MEDTECH Luspatercept demonstrated superiority over epoetin alfa in improving red blood cell (RBC) transfusion independence in transfusion-dependent patients with lower-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (LR-MDS) who have not previously received erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs).
These findings are part of a study that was presented at the 2023 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting:
- The COMMANDS clinical trial compared luspatercept and epoetin alfa in ESA-naive patients with LR-MDS.
- Luspatercept showed a 58.5% transfusion independence rate, compared to 31.2% with epoetin alfa.
- The median duration of response was 126 weeks for luspatercept, significantly longer than the 77 weeks for epoetin alfa.
- Luspatercept led to a higher rate of hematologic improvement-erythroid (HI-E) response (74.1% vs. 51.3%).
- The FDA is set to decide by August 28, 2023, whether to approve luspatercept for patients with LR-MDS who haven’t previously received ESAs.
