Category: In the News

Dr. Claire Harrison, MD, FRCP, FRCPath, Professor at Guy’s and St. Thomas’ Hospital in London summarises relevant information for MPN patients regarding COVID-19, or Coronavirus. 1. Patients with a myeloproliferative neoplasm (ET, PV or myelofibrosis) who are on aspirin alone, blood-thinning tablets (like warfarin, apixaban or rivaroxaban), venesection alone or no treatment at all only need to follow the government’s general advice and aren't considered high risk. 2. Patients over the age of 70 with an MPN, or any MPN patient with additional illnesses such as heart disease, high blood pressure or diabetes, are considered more vulnerable and should follow the government’s guidelines for vulnerable individuals. 3. Patients under 70 years of age who are on medications to control their blood count or their MPN like Hydroxycarbamide, Interferon, Anagrelide, Busulfan, and combinations are in a group where the situation is unclear and there is no clear evidence that they are high risk. But they should at the very least follow the government’s general...

While information is still coming in and what we all know continues to emerge about the Covid-19, or Coronavirus, situation, Dr. Robyn Scherber from the University of Texas-San Antonio Medical Center answers a few frequently asked questions she's received from patients in her practice. Am I most susceptible to coronavirus because I have an MPN? We don’t know yet, so it is best to show appropriate caution and follow guidelines from the CDC and WHO about hygiene and avoiding large gatherings. The data to help answer the questions as to whether coronavirus is going to be a huge problem or more of a nuisance for most patients with MPN is just not there. Although most folks that have severe COVID19 virus injections have serious underlying comorbid health issues—even to us physicians they really haven’t been told the details what most of those are. Most cases that I have heard of suggesting that underlying lung or heart disease seems to be the most...

Dr. Ruben Mesa, Director, Mays Cancer Center, UT Health San Antonio, MD Anderson, offers guidance for patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) in dealing with the Coronavirus (Covid-19).    ...

Dr. Ruben Mesa and Dr. Robyn Scherber hematologists from the Mays Cancer Center, home to UT Health San Antonio MD Anderson discuss the latest updates regarding new treatments for myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNS) including essential thrombocythemia (ET), polycythemia vera (PV) and myelofibrosis (MF). They also discuss the latest updates from the 2019 American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting. ...

MPN Advocates Network (MPNAN), a global collective of Myeloproliferative Neoplasms (MPN) Patient Advocacy Groups, is seeking a part-time Executive Director January 2020 About the MPN Advocates Network (MPNAN) MPNAN was originally founded in 2013 by representatives of MPN patient groups from around the globe. The vision was a world in which the patient advocacy groups helping those with Myeloproliferative Neoplasms (MPN) would be connected to one another and the most up to date information about how to manage a PAG successfully. MPNAN’s mission is to enhance the ability of patient advocacy organizations to improve patient care and quality of life globally for those who have been diagnosed with an MPN. MPNAN is constituted as an independent steering committee within a parent organisation, the Leukaemia Patient Advocates Foundation (LePaf), registered as a non-profit organisation in Switzerland. MPNAN operates for the benefit of Myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) patients and acts independently of any other organization or company. About MPNs MPNs are a group of chronic, progressive blood...

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) publishes a monthly newsletter to provide updates on various topics for patients, healthcare professionals, and the pharmaceutical industry. The Newsletter contains key information on human medicines and changes to regulatory processes in the past month. These highlights do not cover all the Agency's activities in the area of human medicines. Click here to learn more about the newsletter and to join the mailing list! 2020 Editions of Human Medicines Highlights: January 2020  2019 Editions of Human Medicines Highlights: December 2019  November 2019  October 2019  September 2019  August 2019  July 2019  June 2019  May 2019  April 2019  March 2019 February 2019  January 2019    For older editions, see the Newsletter archive....

Sierra Oncology launched the MOMENTUM clinical trial for patients with myelofibrosis in November 2019. The randomized, double-blind, global phase 3 trial is designed to confirm the efficacy of momelotinib on myelofibrosis symptoms, transfusion independence, and splenomegaly, as compared to danazol. Momelotinib had previously been under Gilead before being sold to Sierra in 2018. The trial is targeting enrollment of 180 myelofibrosis patients who are symptomatic, anemic and have been treated previously with a JAK inhibitor.  According to the Chief Investigator Dr. Verstovsek, "Momelotinib could become a suitable alternative for many patients previously treated with a JAK inhibitor due to its ability to positively address all three hallmarks of myelofibrosis - symptoms, anemia and an enlarged spleen. Critically, momelotinib has consistently demonstrated positive anemia benefits in its prior clinical trials. This anemia benefit is biologically-driven, via potent inhibition of the ACVR1/hepcidin axis, a mechanism that is unique in the JAK inhibitor class." The MOMENTUM clinical trial will be available to myelofibrosis patients all...

The MPN Advocates Network's Giora Sharf interviews Dr. Ruben Mesa from the UT Health San Antonio MD Anderson Cancer Center San Antonio, Texas about the biggest MPN updates we learned at ASH 2019.   ...

September 12, 2019, was the 7th Annual MPN Awareness Day, a day dedicated to raising awareness for myeloproliferative neoplasms. In honor MPN Awareness Day 2019, the MPN Advocates Network held a contest for MPN advocacy groups from all over the world.We wanted to know how they are reaching MPN patients, doctors or researchers in their country; how they're helping patients and improving the LIVES of those living with the chronic, rare blood cancers, Polycythemia Vera, Essential Thrombocythemia and Myelofibrosis. MPN-AN is excited to announce that Kaori Tak with MPN-Japan is our winner and will receive a $1,000 gift to go towards the future of their organization!Kaori put a great deal of thought and hard work into establishing an awareness day for the country of Japan. An opportunity that includes both learning and networking for the Japanese MPN community! As well as, holding an event and creating an official logo (pictured above). ...

September 12, 2019, is the 7th Annual MPN Awareness Day, a day dedicated to raising awareness for myeloproliferative neoplasms. In honor of September 12, the MPN Advocates Network wants to hear from YOU: how you are reaching MPN patients, doctors or researchers in your country; how you are helping patients; how you are improving the LIVES of those living with the chronic, rare blood cancers, Polycythemia Vera, Essential Thrombocythemia and Myelofibrosis. Send the MPN Advocates Network a short video, pictures or a description of what you’re doing (up to 500 words) before August 31st. The MPN Advocates Network’s Steering Committee of global MPN advocates will select ONE project to win $1,000 that will be given to your organization (if you are an accredited charity in your country) OR an MPN researcher of your choosing. Send entries to mirjana.hema@gmail.com and post them on social media, don’t forget to tag the Global MPN Advocates Network’s Facebook page and use the hashtags #HomeGrownHope4MPN and #MPNAwarenessDay. Entries must be received...