Health Canada has approved GSK Canada’s Ojjaara treatment for the treatment of splenomegaly and/or symptoms associated with the disease.
This targets adult patients suffering from primary myelofibrosis at intermediate or high risk, myelofibrosis following polycythemia, true or myelofibrosis following essential thrombocythemia and presenting moderate to severe anemia.
It becomes the first and only drug approved globally, and now in Canada, to treat both anemia and other important manifestations of myelofibrosis.
“We are proud to offer this therapeutic option intended to address a critical unmet need and treat other symptoms of myelofibrosis in Canadian patients,” said Michelle Horn, interim national medical director at GSK Canada, in a press release. Given that most patients with myelofibrosis develop anemia, the approval of Ojjaara represents an important milestone in improving outcomes in these patients.”
Myelofibrosis is a rare blood cancer that belongs to a category of diseases called “myeloproliferative neoplasms” (MPN). The incidence rate for MPN is 2.05 new cases per 100,000 Canadians. Currently, it is estimated that between 1,400 and 2,177 people are battling this type of illness in the country.
Anemia is a common symptom of myelofibrosis that creates a significant unmet need.
However, Canadians are little aware of this. A survey conducted in 2024 reveals that 90% of Canadians have already heard of anemia, but that almost 50% of them do not know that it can be linked to blood cancers. Canadians also know very little about anemia. In fact, more than 40% of survey respondents said they knew virtually nothing about this condition.
“Anemia and the transfusions that are performed to correct it have a significant impact on the quality of life, prognosis and survival of patients with myelofibrosis and anemia,” notes HEAL Canada Executive Director Cheryl Petruk. […] This new treatment has the potential to help improve patients’ lives while addressing the main complications of the disease, namely anemia and other major symptoms.”
Note that Health Canada’s approval of Ojjaara is based on data from the pivotal phase III MOMENTUM trial, which demonstrated significant improvements in total symptom score and transfusion independence. and reduction in splenic volume. (N.P.)
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