Injectable Hypomethylating Agents for Managing MDS

Using an oral hypomethylating agent (HMA) may alleviate some treatment challenges in myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), according to a study published in Clinical Lymphoma, Myeloma & Leukemia.

“Until recently, patients with MDS could receive HMAs via intravenous (IV) or subcutaneous (SC) administration. An oral HMA was recently approved as an alternative to IV/SC administration. This study assessed the impact of IV/SC HMA on MDS patients, and their experience of, challenges with, and views about oral MDS treatment,” the researchers wrote.

Researchers conducted an online cross-sectional survey representing 141 patients with MDS (comprising 120 patients and 21 caregiver proxies) invited by two U.S. MDS patient advocacy groups. To meet the inclusion criteria, patients were required to have received IV/SC HMA within six months of taking the survey. Median patient age was 63.0 years, and 53.9% were women. The rates of low-risk, high-risk, and unknown risk MDS were 19.8%, 62.4%, and 17.7%, respectively.

Following an injection, most SC HMA recipients reported pain (94.2%) and interference with daily (86.5%) and social (80.8%) activities. The majority of patients (69.5%) indicated they would prefer oral MDS treatment to IV/SC therapies.

“Patients receiving IV/SC HMAs experienced pain/discomfort and interference with social and daily activities,” the researchers concluded. “The introduction of an oral HMA may alleviate some treatment challenges for MDS patients.”