We had a busy year pursuing many avenues, new and old, in search of more effective treatments and a cure for MPN patients.
In 2017 we continued to grow the network of MPN advocates helping patients globally; sent information kits about PV, ET and MF to hundreds of newly diagnosed MPN patients and their caregivers; launched myMPN, the first registry created by a patient advocacy organization for MPN where patients control what researchers have access to their data; awarded 5 new research grants; set up the MPN Interferon Initiative; held the first meeting for the Progression Marker Project; met with the FDAto learn about how to become better advocates; updated our clinical trials page; attended patient education events online and in person hosted by our fellow MPN advocates; heard from the MPN experts at ASH and held a Roundtable of MPN researchers to find out what unmet need we should focus on in 2018.
While our community has cheered big breakthroughs when other diseases found their miracle cures, we have waited. There were no new drugs approved for MPN in 2017. No blockbuster scientific breakthroughs. It can be disheartening or discouraging to wonder when our big break will come.
But we do have hope and optimism because we are investing in MPN research today that will pay off for people living with these rare cancers.
Every day, our staff, board and scientific advisers wake up with a sense of purpose and commitment to make life better for people living with PV, ET and MF. This is the motivation and goal that keeps us going. Here’s to what we hope will be a positive new year for people living with and caring for MPN patients everywhere.