Retrospective analysis of patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) revealed trends in treatment patterns, indicating improved persistence with oral decitabine and cedazuridine (DEC-C) compared to intravenous/subcutaneous hypomethylating agents beyond six months. The study, involving 1,569 patients, showed that after matching, there were 158 patients in each treatment cohort. Longitudinal persistence was comparable between the oral DEC-C and intravenous/subcutaneous HMA cohorts during the first 6 months post-index. However, a trend toward improved persistence with oral DEC-C was observed in patients receiving treatment beyond 6 months.
Amer Zeidan, MBBS, MHS, Associate Professor of Medicine at Yale School of Medicine, noted that therapy with intravenous or subcutaneous hypomethylating agents has been associated with increased patient burden, potentially affecting treatment compliance and outcomes. The study suggests that oral DEC-C may offer a viable alternative to intravenous or subcutaneous HMAs, with the potential for reduced treatment burden.
The study utilized the U.S. Cerner Enviza claims database, linking medical and prescription claims data for patients to mortality data from Datavant. Adults aged 18 years and older, diagnosed with MDS and having at least one claim for an HMA, were included. The analysis assessed longitudinal persistence according to the number of therapy cycles received during follow-up.
Myelodysplastic syndromes are a group of hematopoietic stem cell disorders characterized by dysplastic changes in myeloid, erythroid, and megakaryocytic progenitor cells, often leading to cytopenias. In the U.S., approximately 20,000 cases of MDS are reported annually, with a significant risk of progression to acute myeloid leukemia (AML).
Taiho Oncology, Inc., headquartered in Princeton, New Jersey, focuses on the development and commercialization of orally administered anti-cancer agents for various tumor types, aiming to improve the lives of patients with cancer, their families, and caregivers.
