FDA Approves First Blood Cancer Drug in 30 Years
Key claim: The FDA approved ropeginterferon alfa-2b-njft (Besremi) for adults with essential thrombocythemia, the first new ET drug approval in nearly 30 years.
Abstract
The FDA approved ropeginterferon alfa-2b-njft (Besremi) for adults with essential thrombocythemia (ET), the first ET approval in nearly 30 years.
Why this matters
The FDA approval of ropeginterferon alfa-2b-njft is the first new ET-specific drug approval in nearly 30 years, shifting ET from a subtype managed largely with off-label or repurposed cytoreductives (hydroxyurea, anagrelide) to one with a labeled interferon option. It converts the SURPASS-ET/EXCEED-ET evidence base into standard-of-care standing and aligns ET with PV in having a regulatory-grade interferon backbone, reframing frontline and second-line sequencing discussions in this subtype.