FDA Approval Insights: Ropeginterferon Alfa-2b Ushers in Long-Awaited New Treatment Option for Essential Thrombocythemia

In today’s episode, we welcomed Ruben Mesa, MD, FACP, who outlined the significance of the August 2026 FDA approval of ropeginterferon alfa-2b-njft (Besremi) for the treatment of adult patients with essential thrombocythemia. Dr Mesa is senior vice president of Atrium Health and president and executive director of the Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Comprehensive Cancer Center in Charlotte, North Carolina.

In the exclusive interview, Dr Mesa discussed what the FDA approval of ropeginterferon alfa-2b means for the essential thrombocythemia treatment paradigm, detailed the key efficacy and safety findings from the phase 3 SURPASS-ET trial (NCT04285086) that supported the approval, and looked ahead to other research that could continue to affect this space.