PRINCETON, N.J.– Bristol Myers Squibb (NYSE: BMY) today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Reblozyl® (luspatercept-aamt) for the treatment of anemia without previous erythropoiesis stimulating agent use (ESA-naïve) in adult patients with very low- to intermediate-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) who may require regular red blood cell (RBC) transfusions. This expanded indication to the first-line setting is based on interim results from the pivotal Phase 3 COMMANDS trial, in which Reblozyl demonstrated superior efficacy of concurrent RBC transfusion independence (RBC-TI) and hemoglobin (Hb) increase compared to epoetin alfa, an ESA, regardless of ring sideroblast status. These results underscore Reblozyl’s ability to address chronic anemia earlier in the treatment journey in a broader range of patients.
“For patients with lower-risk MDS, current standard therapies, including ESAs, have provided limited benefit in controlling anemia with only 1 in 3 patients responding for a duration of 6-18 months,” said Guillermo Garcia-Manero, M.D., lead investigator and Chief of the Section of Myelodysplastic Syndromes at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. “Results from the COMMANDS study showed nearly twice as many patients treated with Reblozyl achieved transfusion independence of at least 12 weeks and concurrent hemoglobin increase compared to epoetin alfa. Today’s approval represents an important advancement for patients with lower-risk MDS.”
In the Phase 3 COMMANDS trial, results showed 58.5% (n=86) of patients treated with Reblozyl vs. 31.2% (n=48) of patients treated with epoetin alfa achieved the primary endpoint of RBC-TI of at least 12 weeks with a mean Hb increase of at least 1.5 g/dL within the first 24 weeks (p<0.0001). The most common (>10%) adverse reactions were diarrhea, fatigue, hypertension, peripheral edema, nausea, and dyspnea.
“Today’s expanded approval of Reblozyl marks an important milestone in our commitment to MDS patients with anemia by providing a durable and more effective treatment option, with more convenient and less frequent administration,” said Wendy Short-Bartie, senior vice president and general manager, U.S. Hematology and Cell Therapy, Bristol Myers Squibb. “We remain dedicated to addressing hard-to-treat diseases with significant burden to patients and look forward to bringing this important option earlier in the treatment process.”
“The majority of patients with MDS experience chronic anemia and require RBC transfusions,” said Tracey Iraca, executive director, MDS Foundation. “The approval of Reblozyl in the first-line treatment of anemia for patients with lower-risk MDS represents a crucial step in making transfusion independence possible for more patients.”
Results from the COMMANDS study were featured in June as part of the press program at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting and plenary session at the European Hematology Association (EHA) Congress, with simultaneous publication in The Lancet. Reblozyl is being developed and commercialized through a global collaboration with Merck as of November 2021.
