A:

I’m much more optimistic these days in 2022 than ever.

Before, in 2004 when I started, there were no studies at our center, and very few in the United States, for any new myelofibrosis medications. And now after all these years, and the first drug approved in 2011, and then 2019, and now 2022, we have an array of drugs that can help alter the outcomes of patients. And now we are even talking about the prolongation of life, which was unheard of in 2004.

Q:

ANY BLUE SKY THOUGHTS TODAY, DR V?

Q:

WHERE ARE WE HEADED IN MF CARE?

A:

So I have seen the worst, when there was really nothing to be done, to now where we have medications that can decrease the spleen, decrease the liver, get patients to feel better, gain weight, and improve performance. We’ll have, I hope, five or seven or ten new drugs in the next five years to improve our management of patients in myelofibrosis.
‍
My ultimate goal would be to help people live much better for much, much longer. Let’s aim for something realistic, like making myelofibrosis chronic, so we’re talking more than five to seven years average survival. Let’s talk about 25 and 30 years survival, knowing that patients are usually in their 60s when they get diagnosed, so that’s a normal life expectancy.

My ultimate goal would be to help people live much better for much, much longer.