For nearly three decades, progress in treating a rare blood cancer called Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukaemia (CMML) had largely stood still.
The results from the AMMO Phase 2 clinical trial were recently presented by Dr Dan Wiseman at the American Society of Haematology (ASH) Conference, and they represent a massive step forward for patients who have long had very few effective options.
Understanding CMML
CMML is a difficult-to-treat disease, which for many people with more aggressive forms of the disease, survival is often less than two years from diagnosis.
For years, the “standard” treatment has been a gentle chemotherapy drug called hydroxycarbamide. While it can help control the disease for a while, it doesn’t actually improve the underlying condition or target the “root” of the cancer.
The AMMO Trial
The AMMO trial set out to see if a new oral treatment, a drug called ASTX727, could do better. Unlike traditional treatments, this new drug is designed to have a deeper effect on CMML stem cells, aiming for a more complete response.
The trial involved 76 participants, and the results – presented on a global stage at the American Society of Haematology Conference were groundbreaking;
- Better Survival: AMMO is the first trial in the world for CMML in 30 years to show that a single drug can help patients live significantly longer when compared directly to the current standard of care.
- Strong Response: 54% of patients responded well to the treatment.
- Convenience: Because the treatment is taken orally, patients can take it at home, making it much more convenient than treatments requiring long hospital stays.
Dr. Dan l Wiseman, from The Christie Hospital, Manchester, who led the trial, highlighted the significance of these findings:
“These results give real hope to people with chronic myelomonocytic leukaemia and related blood cancers. For a long time, treatment options have been limited, and outcomes for these patients have been poor. This marks a major shift in our understanding and also shows what’s possible when scientists, clinicians and charities work together.”
How Your Funding Makes This Possible
Trials like AMMO require a complex “infrastructure” of people and places to succeed. This is where Cure Leukaemia’s funding is vital.
We fund the Trials Acceleration Programme (TAP), a national network of 15 leading blood cancer centres across the UK. This network allows us to:
- Fund Specialist Research Nurses: These nurses are the backbone of clinical trials. They identify eligible patients, guide them through the process, and provide the expert care needed during the trial.
- Speed Up Research: By connecting these centres into one network, we can set up trials up to 18 months faster than the national average, getting new treatments to the people who need them sooner.
- Increase Access: The TAP network reaches a catchment area of over 30 million people, ensuring that patients can access cutting-edge treatments regardless of where they live in the UK.
The AMMO trial was one of the highest-recruiting studies in the TAP network, and shows huge progress for patients with CMML and provides positive signs of future improvements with continued investment into clinical trials. ASTX727 is not currently licensed in the UK or Europe, but we hope one day it will be.
By supporting Cure Leukaemia, you’re helping to fund the nurses and the infrastructure that turn scientific breakthroughs into real-world hope for patients.