Are there any new treatment options coming along?
There is a huge amount of material available on the Internet about treatments and case reports. But as myeloproliferate diseases are rare, there is not much research specifically focussing at these diseases. For this reason an international research Consortium named the MPD-RC has been created. The MPD-RC is an international, multi-institutional no profit consortium set up to coordinate, facilitate, and perform basic and clinical research investigating the genetic and cellular mechanisms of the Philadelphia Chromosome (Ph) negative myeloproliferative disorders (MPD). The ultimate goal is to develop novel therapeutic strategies to improve the management of patients with this type of diseases. This program is led byDr. Ronald Hoffman, a nationally and internationally recognized investigator who has brought together highly qualified and experienced investigators, and efficiently established a complex, well assembled, highly synergistic and innovative structure.10.
The answer is maybe. Mayo Clinic has investigated a number of agents which were unsuccessful including oral interferon. There is a new trial just starting with a new agent that has shown anti-fibrotic activity in test animals and in humans with lung and kidney fibrosis. The first phase is limited to 30 patients and those slots are already full. It will be at least 3 months before any information is available. A second drug which has shown success is multiple myeloma will also be tested. When information is available as to patient response, we will update this FAQ, make an announcement on mpd-net and include it in the coming Myelofibrosis issue of MPD VOICE newsletter.
