Ropeginterferon Alfa-2b Yields Durable Responses in Essential Thrombocythemia
Key claim: In the Phase 3 SURPASS-ET trial, ropeginterferon alfa-2b achieved a 43% response rate versus 6% for anagrelide in hydroxyurea-intolerant or refractory ET patients at months 9–12, supporting a pending 2026 FDA approval for the ET indication.
Abstract
Phase 3 SURPASS-ET trial results show ropeginterferon alfa-2b-njft met its primary endpoint versus anagrelide in hydroxyurea-intolerant/refractory ET patients, with 43% vs 6% response rates at months 9-12. Pending FDA approval for ET indication in 2026.
Why this matters
SURPASS-ET is the first Phase 3 head-to-head trial establishing superiority of an interferon over anagrelide specifically in the second-line ET population, a subtype-defining shift in the ET treatment hierarchy. Coupled with the recent NCCN category 1 interferon designation, it consolidates ropeginterferon’s role as a disease-modifying option distinct from PV’s cytoreductive landscape and reframes natural history expectations for HU-intolerant/refractory ET patients.