Local scientific discovery Omjarra (momelotinib) TGA approved for Australians with rare bone marrow cancer

MELBOURNE PHOTO-FILMING OPPORTUNITY: THURSDAY 16^TH JANUARY 2025

 

DATE:   Thursday 16^th January 2025

 

TIME:   10.30 – 11.30am

 

LOCATION: 3 Torresdale Road, Toorak, Melbourne

 

INTERVIEWEES:

• Prof Andrew Wilks: Melbourne scientific researcher who discovered the Janus Kinase proteins in the 1980s and then momelotinib, working with Dr Chris Burns.
• Prof Andrew Perkins: Professor of Haematology, The Alfred Hospital and Head of Genomic Medicine, Alfred Health.
• Deb Fryers, 51: Living with myelofibrosis for five years. Prior to her diagnosis, Deb had a successful career as a filmmaker and talent manager.  
• MPN Alliance: Ken Young and Leukemia Foundation: Bill Stavreski

 

Story:

In a major milestone for Australian medical research, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has approved local scientific discovery Omjjara (momelotinib), for the treatment of Australians living with the rare bone marrow cancer myelofibrosis and who have moderate to severe anaemia.¹

 

This TGA approval is the culmination of a thirty-year research story that began in Parkville, Melbourne in the 1980s, with scientists Professor Andrew Wilks and Dr Chris Burns discovering the Janus kinase (JAK) proteins and the compound moMELotinib, named after its research home.²

 

Additional Information:

Myelofibrosis is diagnosed in around one in every 100,000 Australians and most commonly in those aged between 60 and 70.³   People who are diagnosed with myelofibrosis have an average survival of 5-7 years,⁴ and nearly a quarter are in need of regular blood transfusions.⁵ Within a year, up to 58% will experience anaemia.⁵

 

GSK acquired Omjjara in 2022 and has secured regulatory approvals in the US, Europe and now Australia to bring it to the patient community.  Omjjara becomes just one of only a handful of original local research discoveries to secure both TGA and US FDA approval.^2,6-10

 

Omjjara is known as a protein kinase inhibitor and works by blocking the action of key proteins associated with the disease.¹¹

 

Professor Andrew Wilks and Dr Chris Burns, comment: “We are so proud to see momelotinib achieve TGA approval. This milestone allows us to bring this molecule home to Australia, and to Melbourne. Every scientist dreams of taking their development from ‘bench to bedside’ and we are grateful to GSK for now ensuring our science will do what we set out to achieve with our team’s research efforts – bring momelotinib to those living with myelofibrosis."

 

Patients should speak to their physician or haematologist for guidance on the management of their condition.

 

Visual Story Assets:

Dropbox: Omjjara Momelotinib TGA Consumer Media Visual Files_Embargoed 16 January 2025  

 

Footnote

*Omjjara is indicated for the treatment of disease-related splenomegaly or symptoms in adult patients with moderate to severe anaemia who have primary myelofibrosis, post polycythaemia vera myelofibrosis or post essential thrombocythaemia myelofibrosis and who are Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor naïve or have been treated with ruxolitinib.

 

About GSK

GSK is a global biopharma company with a purpose to unite science, technology, and talent to get ahead of disease together. Find out more at Home | GSK AU

References

1. Omjjara Consumer Medicine Information
2. ABC News. PM Awards in Science & Innovation. 8 October 2024. Available: Astrophysicist Matthew Bailes wins 2024 Prime Minister's Prize for Science Accessed October 2024.
3. Leukaemia Foundation. 2023. Primary myelofibrosis.
4. Masarova et al. Cancer April 2022
5. Tefferi, A.,et al. 2012. One thousand patients with primary myelofibrosis: The Mayo Clinic experience.
6. Therapeutic Goods Administration. ARTG entry for product ID 442232. Available: https://www.tga.gov.au/resources/artg/442232 Accessed December 2024.
7. Liam Mannix, The Age and Sydney Morning Herald.19 September 2023. Australian-made cancer drug gets billion-dollar US FDA approval. Available: https://www.smh.com.au/national/australian-made-cancer-drug-gets-billion-dollar-us-fda-approval-20230918-p5e5gp.html Accessed September 2024.
8. Australian Academy of Science. Relenza, 2024. Available: Mark von Itzstein | Australian Academy of Science Accessed September 2024.
9. Venetoclax (Venclexta). 27 July 2017. Available: Anti-cancer treatment yields up to US$325M in landmark Australian deal | WEHI Accessed October 2024.
10. Translational Research Institute Australia - Cervical cancer | Translational Research Institute Accessed October 2024.
11. Omjjara Consumer Medicine Information

 

For information on GSK products or to report an adverse event involving a GSK product, please contact GSK Medical Information on 1800 033 109. Trademarks are owned by or licensed to the GSK group of companies. ©2024 GSK group of companies or its licensor.  GlaxoSmithKline Australia Pty Ltd. ABN 47 100 162 481, Melbourne VIC. 

NP-AU-MML-PRSR-240002. Date of Preparation: December 2024

 

 

Contact details:

Media contacts:

Cube: Anne-Marie Sparrow on 0417 421 560 / anne-marie@cube.com.au

GSK: Emma Power on 0419 149 525/ emma.k.power@gsk.com