Comparing Luspatercept and Epoetin Alfa for Anemia in Myelodysplastic Syndrome
Official title: A Phase 3, Open-label, Randomized Study to Compare the Efficacy and Safety of Luspatercept (ACE-536) vs Epoetin Alfa for the Treatment of Anemia Due to Revised International Prognostic Scoring System (IPSS-R) Very Low, Low, or Intermediate-Risk Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS) in Erythropoiesis-Stimulating Agent (ESA)-Naive Participants Who Are Non-Transfusion Dependent (NTD): The "ELEMENT-MDS" Trial
Run by Bristol-Myers Squibb · NCT05949684 · Data updated 2026-05-14
This study is no longer in our active list. It may have stopped recruiting or finished. The details below are as of 2026-05-14 and are kept for reference. Check ClinicalTrials.gov for its current status, or see similar studies below.
This study is testing whether a new drug called Luspatercept works better than Epoetin Alfa for treating anemia in adults with Myelodysplastic Syndromes who aren't getting blood transfusions.
Quick facts
| Phase | Phase 3 |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 360 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Bristol-Myers Squibb Industry-sponsored |
| Drugs / interventions | chemotherapy, radiation |
| Locations | 169 sites (Clovis, California and 168 other locations) |
| Trial ID | NCT05949684 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates for this study are adults diagnosed with very low, low, or intermediate-risk MDS who are not dependent on blood transfusions and have not previously received erythropoiesis-stimulating agents.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients who are transfusion dependent or have received prior erythropoiesis-stimulating agents may not benefit from this study.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Luspatercept compared to Epoetin Alfa in treating anemia in adults with Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS) who are not receiving blood transfusions. Participants must have a documented diagnosis of MDS classified as very low, low, or intermediate-risk and must be naive to erythropoiesis-stimulating agents. The study will assess the impact of these treatments on anemia symptoms and overall health outcomes in this specific patient population.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this study could provide a new effective treatment option for patients with anemia due to MDS, potentially improving their quality of life.
How similar studies have gone: Other studies have shown promise in using Luspatercept for treating anemia in MDS, indicating a potential for success with this approach.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria * Participant has documented diagnosis of MDS according to World Health Organization (WHO) 2016 that meet IPSS-R classification of very low, low, or intermediate-risk disease, (intermediate-risk of ≤ 3.5 IPSS-R score) confirmed via bone marrow aspirate and:. i) \< 5% blasts in bone marrow and \< 1% blasts in peripheral blood. * Participant is not transfusion dependent (NTD) based on IWG2018 criteria. * Participant is erythropoiesis-stimulating agent naive. Participants may be randomized at the investigator's discretion if the participant received no more than 2 prior doses of epoetin alfa, epoetin alfa biosimilar, or darbepoetin alfa, with the last dose at least 8 weeks prior to randomization. * Participant has a baseline endogenous serum erythropoietin (sEPO) level of ≤ 500 U/L. * Participant has symptoms of anemia:. i) Participant records a severity score of "moderate" or greater on at least 1 PGI-S item of fatigue, weakness, shortness of breath, or dizziness performed during the screening period. * Participant has a baseline Hb concentration prior to randomization of ≤ 9.5 g/dL. The baseline Hb will be calculated using the mean of the two lowest available Hb measurements within 16 weeks prior to randomization and must include at least one central lab Hb reading done within the screening period (no more than 35 days before randomization). The two Hb measurements must have been performed at least seven days apart. Hb levels less than 21 days following RBC transfusion should not be used. Split samples for local assessments are not required. Exclusion Criteria * Participant with secondary MDS (that is, MDS that is known to have arisen as the result of chemical injury or treatment with chemotherapy and/or radiation for other diseases). * Participant with known history of diagnosis of AML. * Participant with history of cerebrovascular accident (including ischemic, embolic, and hemorrhagic cerebrovascular accident), transient ischemic attack, deep venous thrombosis (including proximal and distal), pulmonary or arterial embolism, arterial thrombosis, or other venous thrombosis within 6 months prior to randomization. * Participant with a history of pure red cell aplasia and/or antibody against erythropoietin. * Other protocol-defined Inclusion/Exclusion criteria apply.
Where it's running
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Community Cancer Institute
Clovis, California, United States Recruiting -
John Muir Medical Center - Concord Campus
Concord, California, United States Recruiting -
Compassionate Cancer Care Medical Group
Fountain Valley, California, United States Recruiting -
Cancer and Blood Specialty Clinic
Los Alamitos, California, United States Recruiting -
UCLA Hematology/Oncology - Westwood (Building 200 Suite 120)
Los Angeles, California, United States Recruiting -
St. Joseph Hospital
Orange, California, United States Recruiting
Show 44 more locations
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Ventura County Hematology Oncology Specialists
Oxnard, California, United States Recruiting -
Hartford Hospital (HH)
Hartford, Connecticut, United States Recruiting -
Yale-New Haven Hospital
New Haven, Connecticut, United States Recruiting -
Florida Cancer Specialists - South
Fort Myers, Florida, United States Recruiting -
Baptist MD Anderson Cancer Center
Jacksonville, Florida, United States Recruiting -
D&H Cancer Research Center LLC
Margate, Florida, United States Recruiting -
BRCR Global
Plantation, Florida, United States Recruiting -
Florida Cancer Specialists - North
Saint Petersburg, Florida, United States Recruiting -
Advanced Research
Tamarac, Florida, United States Recruiting -
Moffitt Cancer Center
Tampa, Florida, United States Recruiting -
Northwestern Memorial Hospital
Chicago, Illinois, United States Recruiting -
Orchard Healthcare Research Inc.
Skokie, Illinois, United States Recruiting -
Northwest Cancer Centers, P.C.
Dyer, Indiana, United States Recruiting -
Our Lady of the Lake RMC
Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States Recruiting -
Pontchartrain Cancer Center
Covington, Louisiana, United States Recruiting -
American Oncology Partners of Maryland, PA
Bethesda, Maryland, United States Recruiting -
Metro-Minnesota Community Clinical Oncology
Saint Louis Park, Minnesota, United States Recruiting -
Hattiesburg Clinic Hematology/Oncology
Hattiesburg, Mississippi, United States Recruiting -
John Theurer Cancer Center at Hackensack University Medical Center
Hackensack, New Jersey, United States Recruiting -
The James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center
Columbus, Ohio, United States Recruiting -
University of Tennessee Medical Center
Knoxville, Tennessee, United States Recruiting -
University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Houston, Texas, United States Recruiting -
VCU Health Adult Outpatient Pavillion
Richmond, Virginia, United States Recruiting -
Blue Ridge Cancer Care
Roanoke, Virginia, United States Recruiting -
Kadlec Clinic Hematology and Oncology
Kennewick, Washington, United States Recruiting -
Centro Mdico "Barrio Parque"
Buenos Aires, Argentina Recruiting -
Hospital Británico de Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires, Argentina Recruiting -
Instituto Alexander Fleming
Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina Recruiting -
Blacktown Hospital
Blacktown, New South Wales, Australia Recruiting -
Royal Prince Alfred Hospital
Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia Recruiting -
Coffs Harbour Health Campus
Coffs Harbour, New South Wales, Australia Recruiting -
Pindara Private Hospital
Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia Recruiting -
Monash Health
Clayton, Victoria, Australia Recruiting -
Austin Health
Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia Recruiting -
Hospital Universitario Walter Cantidio
Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil Recruiting -
Hospital São Lucas da PUCRS
Porto Alegre, Rio Grande Do Sul, Brazil Recruiting -
Hemorio
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Recruiting -
Hospital das Clinicas FMUSP
São Paulo, Brazil Recruiting -
Arthur J.E. Child Comprehensive Cancer Centre
Calgary, Alberta, Canada Recruiting -
St. Paul's Hospital
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Recruiting -
Victoria Hospital & Children's Hospital - London Health Sciences Centre
London, Ontario, Canada Recruiting -
Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
Toronto, Ontario, Canada Recruiting -
Enroll SpA
Santiago, Región Metropolitana De Santiago, Chile Recruiting -
Falp
Santiago, Región Metropolitana De Santiago, Chile Recruiting
+119 more sites. See ClinicalTrials.gov for the full list.
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: BMS Clinical Trials Contact Center www.BMSClinicalTrials.com
- Email: Clinical.Trials@bms.com
- Phone: 855-907-3286
Similar studies
Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.
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Age-stratified conditioning regimens to improve outcomes in haploidentical stem cell transplant for myelodysplastic syndrome
This study tests two conditioning regimens in adults with MDS undergoing haploidentical stem cell transplant to see how age affects outcomes over one year.
-
FXS0683 in relapsed or refractory blood cancers
This first‑in‑human study tests FXS0683 in adults with relapsed or refractory B‑cell lymphoma, AML, MDS, or ALL to see if it is safe, how the drug behaves in the body, and whether it shows any antitumor activity.
-
Brain network changes in adults with anemia measured by fNIRS
This project will use functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) to see if brain network connections are altered in adults aged 18–65 who have anemia.
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Cord blood transplant for children and young adults with blood cancers.
This study will test whether a cord blood transplant given as a first or second transplant can help children and young adults with leukemia, myelodysplasia, or lymphoma who lack a matched donor.
-
Reduced-intensity donor stem cell transplant with treosulfan/fludarabine and post-transplant cyclophosphamide for leukemia and MDS
This trial tests a lower-intensity donor stem cell transplant using treosulfan plus fludarabine with post-transplant cyclophosphamide to try to reduce toxicity and prevent graft-versus-host disease in people aged 2–75 with acute leukemias or myelodysplastic syndromes.
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.