PharmaEssentia Corporation has announced plans to present positive results from its Phase 3 SURPASS-ET clinical trial at the upcoming 2025 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting in Chicago. The trial evaluated ropeginterferon alfa-2b-njft as a second-line treatment for patients with essential thrombocythemia (ET), a rare blood disorder characterized by excessive platelet production.
The data, which will be presented in an oral session on June 2, 2025, demonstrated that ropeginterferon alfa-2b-njft achieved a significantly higher durable clinical response rate compared to anagrelide (42.9% vs. 6.0%; p=0.0001). Additionally, the treatment showed a favorable safety profile and a greater reduction in JAK2 V617F allelic burden over the 12-month study period.
Addressing Unmet Needs in Essential Thrombocythemia
Essential thrombocythemia is the most common type of myeloproliferative neoplasm, typically caused by genetic mutations that lead to overproduction of platelets in the bone marrow. This overproduction can obstruct blood flow and increase the risk of serious complications including stroke, heart attack, and pulmonary embolism.
"Current options for patients with ET are limited. Standard therapies like hydroxyurea have notable drawbacks and do not target the underlying biology of the disease, while anagrelide has been associated with toxicity concerns and limited efficacy," explained Dr. Ruben Mesa, co-principal investigator, presenting author, and President of Atrium Health Levine Cancer Institute.
Dr. Mesa emphasized the significance of the trial, noting, "This marks the first registrational Phase 3 trial of a long-acting interferon in ET, demonstrating not only well-tolerated blood count control but also a measurable reduction in JAK2 mutation allele burden. These findings support further investigation of ropeginterferon as a second-line option for patients with ET who are seeking additional treatment approaches."
Building on Existing Approvals
Ropeginterferon alfa-2b-njft is currently FDA-approved and marketed as BESREMi® for the treatment of adults with polycythemia vera (PV), another myeloproliferative neoplasm. The drug has been recognized by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network® (NCCN®) as a preferred first-line cytoreductive therapy for adults with symptomatic, low-risk PV and the only preferred therapeutic option for both high-risk and low-risk (symptomatic) patients, regardless of treatment history.
The medication has already received approval in more than 40 countries worldwide, including authorizations from the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in 2019, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2021, and the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA) in Japan in 2023.
Innovative Treatment Approach
BESREMi® represents an innovative approach to treating myeloproliferative neoplasms. As a monopegylated, long-acting interferon, it features unique pegylation technology that extends its duration of activity in the body. This allows for a flexible dosing schedule of once every two weeks, or every four weeks for patients who have maintained hematological stability for at least one year.
"The ASCO meeting is an important opportunity to share detailed findings of our positive data from the SURPASS-ET study with the medical community," said Albert Qin, M.D., Ph.D., Chief Medical Officer of PharmaEssentia USA. "These data highlight a significant advance in the treatment of essential thrombocythemia and reinforce our commitment to delivering innovative, non-chemotherapy options for patients living with myeloproliferative neoplasms."
Safety Considerations
It's important to note that BESREMi® was approved with a boxed warning for risk of serious disorders, including aggravation of neuropsychiatric, autoimmune, ischemic, and infectious disorders. Healthcare providers must carefully weigh these risks against the potential benefits when considering this treatment option.
Looking Forward
The presentation at ASCO, titled "Ropeginterferon alfa-2b versus anagrelide for the treatment of essential thrombocythemia: Topline results of the phase 3 SURPASS-ET trial," will provide the medical community with detailed insights into this potentially significant advancement in ET treatment. The session is scheduled for Monday, June 2, 2025, from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. CDT.
If ropeginterferon alfa-2b-njft receives approval for ET, it could offer a valuable new option for patients who have limited treatment alternatives, particularly those who have not responded adequately to first-line therapies or have experienced intolerable side effects.
