The Comprehensive Role of Nurses in Myelofibrosis Care

(BPT) - Sponsored by GSK.

Myelofibrosis (MF) is a rare and complex blood cancer that can take both a physical and emotional toll, making holistic care an important part of managing the disease.^[i] Nurses play a central role in supporting people living with MF, providing care that extends far beyond the walls of the clinic.

"My role as a nurse is more than just administering treatments," shares Jennifer Dunn, a nurse navigator at and employed by UNC Hospitals in Chapel Hill specializing in hematologic malignancies. Jennifer is a paid spokesperson for GSK. Her experience and others' may be different. "I'm a coordinator, a supporter, and a problem-solver. I'm the one patients call when they're worried about a symptom or need help with logistical challenges. I strive to be the cog that keeps the wheel of their care team turning."

Recognizing and Managing Symptoms

Each person experiences MF differently, which can make recognizing symptoms challenging. Symptoms can include, but are not limited to:

• Anemia - not having enough healthy red blood cells
• Enlarged spleen (splenomegaly) - spleen being overworked by too many abnormal blood cells
• Low platelet count (thrombocytopenia) - which can cause problems like bleeding or bruising easilyⁱ

Anemia, or low red blood cell count, is one of the most common symptoms, with about 60% of people living with MF becoming anemic within one year of diagnosis.^[ii] It can cause them to feel tired, weak or short of breath. Nurses like Dunn are often the first to hear from patients about these symptoms and play a vital role in helping patients monitor and manage them.

"Fatigue is the big one," says Dunn. "People will often say they didn't realize just how bad they felt until they started feeling better. Addressing the anemia can make a difference in how they feel." Due to advancements in the treatment landscape, Dunn and healthcare practitioners across the country are able to better treat the symptoms that impact the lives of patients living with MF.

Approved by the FDA in 2023, OJJAARA (momelotinib) 200 mg, 150 mg, 100 mg tablets is a prescription medicine and the first and only FDA treatment option for adults who have certain types of MF with anemia.^[iii]

OJJAARA may cause serious side effects, including risk of infections, severe skin reactions, and blood clots that can each be life-threatening, low platelet and white blood cell counts, liver problems, and new cancers. Other serious side effects include major cardiovascular events such as heart attack, stroke, and death. Get emergency help right away if you have chest pain - pressure or tightness in your chest that may spread to your jaw, neck, or left arm, feeling dizzy, faint, or lightheaded, nausea or vomiting, indigestion or heartburn, breaking out in a cold sweat, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, weakness in one part or on one side of body, and slurred speech. These are not all the possible symptoms of a heart attack or stroke. Please review the Important Safety Information below and the full Prescribing Information to learn more.

Bridging Communication Gaps

Nurses also serve as a bridge between patients and other healthcare providers. "Our team works seamlessly together," Dunn explains. "For example, if I notice a patient is struggling with the different types of impact that MF can have, I'll bring it to the attention of the physicians so we can adjust the care plan accordingly."

Nurses also play a pivotal role in educating patients about their condition and treatment options. Using trusted resources, visual aids, and personal guidance, they empower patients to better understand their diagnosis and the steps needed to manage it. "Education is key," Dunn notes. "People need to understand what's happening in their bodies and why certain treatments are recommended. That knowledge helps empower them to make informed treatment decisions with their healthcare team."

Navigating Practical Challenges

Oncology health care teams may have a nurse navigator. Beyond medical care, nurse navigators often help address the logistical challenges that can arise when managing a rare disease. From coordinating appointments and transportation to assisting with paperwork and referrals, their support is multifaceted.

As the nurse navigator in her office, Dunn recently reached out to a local, county sponsored program for eligible patients to arrange free transportation for a patient who didn't have a ride to the clinic. "It's about thinking outside the box and finding creative solutions to support our patients," says Dunn.

Support for Living with MF With Anemia

Individuals living with MF can be faced with many challenges, but they do not need to feel alone. Nurses often provide the connection, care, and advocacy that can help make a meaningful difference.

If you or a loved one are living with MF with anemia, talk to your healthcare provider. Visit OJJAARA.com to learn more about an available treatment option and talk with your healthcare provider about whether OJJAARA may be appropriate for you.

APPROVED USE

OJJAARA is a prescription medicine used to treat adults with certain types of myelofibrosis (MF) who have anemia. It is not known if OJJAARA is safe and effective in children.ⁱⁱⁱ

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

OJJAARA may cause serious side effects, including:

• Risk of Infections. People who take OJJAARA may develop serious infections that can lead to death, such as bacterial and viral infections, including COVID-19. If you have an active infection, your healthcare provider should not start treatment with OJJAARA until your infection is gone. If you have had hepatitis B for a long time (chronic), OJJAARA may cause your hepatitis B to become active again, and your healthcare provider will check your blood for active hepatitis B before starting treatment. Your healthcare provider will monitor you and treat you for any infections that you get during treatment with OJJAARA. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you develop any of the following symptoms of infection:
  • fever
  • chills
  • cough
  • breathing problems
  • diarrhea
  • vomiting
  • pain or burning feeling when passing urine
• Low platelet and white blood cell counts. OJJAARA may cause new or worsening low platelet and white blood cell counts. Low platelet counts may increase your risk for bleeding and low white blood cell counts may increase your risk for infection. Your healthcare provider will do blood tests to check your blood counts before you start taking OJJAARA and during treatment. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any signs of bleeding during treatment with OJJAARA, including:
  • unusual bleeding
  • black or tarry stools
  • bruising
• Liver problems. OJJAARA may cause new or worsening increased liver enzymes and bilirubin in your blood. Your healthcare provider will check your liver enzymes before starting treatment, every month for the first 6 months of treatment, and then as needed during treatment with OJJAARA. Your healthcare provider may stop treatment with OJJAARA if your liver enzymes increase. Tell your healthcare provider if you develop any of the following signs or symptoms of liver problems:
  • tiredness
  • loss of appetite
  • pain in your right upper stomach area (abdomen)
  • dark urine
  • yellowing of your skin or the white part of your eyes
• Severe skin reactions. Severe skin reactions that can be life-threatening have occurred with OJJAARA. Tell your healthcare provider or get medical help right away if you get any of the following signs or symptoms of severe skin reactions, with or without fever:
  • rash that keeps getting worse
  • severe rash
  • reddened skin
  • flu-like symptoms
  • skin pain or burning
  • blistering of the lips, eyes or mouth
  • blisters on the skin
  • skin peeling
• Major cardiovascular events such as heart attack, stroke, and death.Major cardiac events have happened, especially in people with cardiac risk factors and who are current or past smokers, taking another Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor to treat rheumatoid arthritis. OJJAARA is in the JAK family of medicines. Get emergency help right away if you have any symptoms of a heart attack or stroke while taking OJJAARA, including:
  • discomfort in your chest that lasts for more than a few minutes, or that goes away and comes back
  • severe tightness, pain, pressure, or heaviness in your chest, throat, neck, or jaw
  • pain or discomfort in your arms, back, neck, jaw, or stomach
  • shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort
  • breaking out in a cold sweat
  • nausea or vomiting
  • feeling lightheaded
  • weakness in one part or on one side of your body
  • slurred speech
• Blood clots. Blood clots in the veins of the legs (deep vein thrombosis, DVT) or lungs (pulmonary embolism, PE) have happened in some people taking another JAK inhibitor to treat rheumatoid arthritis, and may be life-threatening. Tell your healthcare provider if you have had blood clots in the veins of your legs or lungs in the past. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any signs and symptoms of blood clots during treatment with OJJAARA, including:
  • swelling, pain or tenderness in one or both legs
  • sudden, unexplained chest pain
  • shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• New cancers. New cancers, including lymphoma and other cancers, except non-melanoma skin cancer, have happened in some people taking another JAK inhibitor to treat rheumatoid arthritis. The risk of new cancers is further increased in people who smoke or who smoked in the past.

The most common side effects of OJJAARA include:

• low platelet count
• bleeding
• bacterial infection
• tiredness
• dizziness
• diarrhea
• nausea

These are not all the possible side effects of OJJAARA. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.

Before taking OJJAARA, tell your healthcare provider about all your medical conditions, including if you:

• have an infection
• have or have had hepatitis B
• have or have had liver problems
• have had a heart attack, or have or have had other heart problems, or stroke
• have or have had a blood clot
• smoke or were a smoker in the past
• have or have had any other cancers
• are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. OJJAARA may harm your unborn baby.

Females who are able to become pregnant:

• • You should use effective birth control (contraception) during treatment and for 1 week after the last dose of OJJAARA.
  • Tell your healthcare provider right away if you think you are pregnant or become pregnant during treatment with OJJAARA.

• are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if OJJAARA passes into your breast milk. You should not breastfeed during treatment and for 1 week after the last dose of OJJAARA. Talk to your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby during this time.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Taking OJJAARA with certain other medicines may affect the amount of OJJAARA or the other medicines in your blood and may increase your risk of side effects.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visitwww.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088. You may also report negative side effects to GSK atgsk.public.reportum.com or 1-888-825-5249.

Please see fullPrescribing Information, includingPatient Information for OJJAARA.

To learn more about this treatment option, visitOJJAARA.com.

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PMUS-MMLCOCO250001 June 2025

Produced in USA.

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