imetelstat sodium
(ih-MEH-tel-stat SOH-dee-um)
A drug used to treat low-risk or intermediate-1 risk myelodysplastic syndromes in adults with anemia. It is used in patients who need regular red blood cell transfusions and did not respond to or cannot be treated with an erythropoiesis-stimulating agent. It is also being studied in the treatment of other types of cancer. Imetelstat sodium binds to an enzyme called telomerase, which is found at high levels in certain types of cells, including cancer cells. Blocking the activity of this enzyme may help keep cancer cells from growing and dividing and cause them to die. Imetelstat sodium is a type of enzyme inhibitor. Also called Rytelo.