According to results from the ROMEI trial, patients with myelofibrosis receiving the oral JAK1/2 inhibitor ruxolitinib frequently are nonadherent to treatment, which could negatively impact disease control.
The ROMEI trial is a prospective, observational study in 188 patients from real-world practices. Researchers assessed treatment adherence based on the eight-item Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS-8). The present analysis reports findings at week 24 of treatment.
A total of 101 of 188 evaluable patients completed the questionnaire at every visit (defined as “full completers”). In the overall population, the average total MMAS-8 score remained stable from week 4 to week 24, at 7.54?±?0.77 and 7.67?±?0.70, respectively. There was a similar trend among full completers (7.53?±?0.79 and 7.67?±?0.73, respectively).
Rates of low adherence (MMAS-8 score ?6) were 25 to 40%, while rates of medium adherence (MMAS-8?score ?6 to ?8) were 26 to 36%. Among full completers, 55 (54%) reported at least one change in adherence category (improvement and/or worsening), “most of which were associated with unintentional behavior,” the authors noted.
“The data suggest that one-third of patients receiving ruxolitinib may be undertreated due to nonadherence,” the researchers concluded, which potentially undermines disease control. These results also “indicate a need for better interventions addressing noncompliance to oral therapies.”
