Momelotinib Review Article Published in Journal of Hematology & Oncology Highlights Importance of Anemia Benefit for Myelofibrosis Patients

Sierra Oncology, Inc. (NASDAQ: SRRA), a late-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to delivering targeted therapies for rare cancers, today announced the publication of a review article in the Journal of Hematology & Oncology that outlines the potential ability of momelotinib—a novel JAK1, JAK2 and ACVR1 / ALK2 inhibitor—to address the critical unmet need of anemia for myelofibrosis patients. Srdan Verstovsek, MD, PhD, Chief, Section for Myeloproliferative Neoplasms, Department of Leukemia, Division of Cancer Medicine at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and co-Primary Investigator of the pivotal Phase 3 MOMENTUM study, co-authored the article.

“We are delighted to see this publication that reinforces momelotinib as the potential JAK inhibitor of choice for myelofibrosis patients with anemia—a need that is currently not met with approved JAK inhibitors. We look forward to sharing MOMENTUM topline data the end of January 2022,” said Stephen Dilly, MBBS, PhD, President and Chief Executive Officer at Sierra Oncology.

Myelofibrosis is characterized by constitutional symptoms, including fatigue, body and bone pain and excessive sweating or fever; splenomegaly (enlarged spleen); and anemia. Moderate-to-severe anemia afflicts 40-60% of myelofibrosis patients at the time of diagnosis and increases to up-to 90% of patients over time.¹ Anemia is a predictor of reduced overall survival and is associated with a nearly four-fold increase in the risk of death compared to no anemia, with a median survival of just 2.1 years.^2,3

While JAK inhibitors are the mainstay of treatment options for myelofibrosis patients, currently approved JAK inhibitors cause myelosuppression, worsening anemia and creating poorer outcomes for patients. This profile creates a critical gap in the myelofibrosis treatment landscape and the need for a therapy that can address all three hallmarks of disease.

The authors noted in the publication, “Momelotinib’s mechanism of action uniquely positions it amongst approved and late-stage JAK inhibitors to be able to significantly alleviate the inflammation-driven, iron-restricted anemia of MF [ myelofibrosis] and eliminate/prevent RBC [red blood cell] transfusion dependence in a significant portion of MF patients besides treating the other two cardinal features of MF (splenomegaly and constitutional symptoms).”