A Study to Compare Elritercept With Epoetin Alfa to Treat Anemia in Adults With Very Low, Low, or Intermediate Risk Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS) Who Need Regular Blood Transfusions

To join this study, you need to be an adult aged 18 or over. You must have a diagnosis of Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS) that is considered very low, low, or intermediate risk by international standards. This will be checked by experts before you start.

You also need to be regularly receiving red blood cell transfusions due to your anaemia. Specifically, you would have needed between 2 and 6 units of blood every 8 weeks for at least the 8 weeks before the study starts. Your haemoglobin levels (a measure of red blood cells) would typically be 9.0 g/dL or lower when you receive a transfusion, often accompanied by symptoms of anaemia like tiredness or breathlessness.

Finally, some blood tests will be done to check your bone marrow and your natural levels of a hormone called erythropoietin (EPO). These tests help make sure the study medicine might be suitable for you. The study team will explain all these details clearly if you are interested.

If you decide to join this study, you would first go through a screening process to make sure it's right for you. This involves several check-ups and blood tests. Once you're in the study, you would regularly receive either the new medicine, Elritercept, or the standard treatment, Epoetin Alfa. You wouldn't know which one you are getting, and neither would your study doctor, which helps make the results fair.

You'll have regular hospital visits for blood tests, physical exams, and to answer questions about how you're feeling and your quality of life. The doctors will closely monitor your blood counts, specifically your haemoglobin levels, and track any need for blood transfusions. You would also report any side effects or changes in your health. The total duration of your participation, including follow-up, would be fully explained by the study team.