A Study to Compare Elritercept With Epoetin Alfa to Treat Anemia in Adults With Very Low, Low, or Intermediate Risk Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS) Who Need Regular Blood Transfusions

Cannot have received: epoetin alfa (epoetin alfa)

Exception: may be allowed if received no more than 2 doses of only epoetin alfa ≥8 weeks prior to randomization

Prior therapy with epoetin alfa

Cannot have received: erythropoiesis-stimulating agent

Exception: No other ESA agent is allowed

No other erythropoiesis-stimulating agent (ESA) agent is allowed

Cannot have received: darbepoetin (darbepoetin)

Prior therapy with darbepoetin

Cannot have received: granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor)

Exception: unless given for treatment of febrile neutropenia

Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor or granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor administered ≤8 weeks (56 days) prior to randomization unless given for treatment of febrile neutropenia

Cannot have received: immunomodulatory drug (lenalidomide)

Exception: may be allowed if received ≤1 week of an IMiD ≥8 weeks prior to randomization

Immunomodulatory drug (IMiDs) including lenalidomide

Cannot have received: hypomethylating agent

Exception: may be allowed if received no more than 2 doses ≥8 weeks prior to randomization

Hypomethylating agent

Cannot have received: luspatercept, sotatercept, imetelstat, or elritercept (luspatercept, sotatercept, imetelstat, elritercept)

Luspatercept, sotatercept, imetelstat, or elritercept

Cannot have received: immunosuppressive therapy

Immunosuppressive therapy

Cannot have received: hematopoietic cell transplant

Hematopoeitic cell transplant

Cannot have received: iron chelation

Exception: Participants on stable doses of iron chelation therapy for ≥8 weeks are allowed

Iron chelation if administered ≤8 weeks prior to randomization

Cannot have received: vitamin B12 or folate therapy

Exception: Participants on stable replacement doses for ≥4 weeks and without ongoing concurrent vitamin B12 or folate deficiency are allowed

Vitamin B12 or folate therapy initiated within 4 weeks prior to randomization

Cannot have received: androgen

Exception: Participants on stable androgen dosing for hypogonadism for ≥8 weeks are allowed

Androgen use within 8 weeks before randomization

Cannot have received: high-dose corticosteroid

Exception: Participants on stable chronic steroid doses of prednisone ≤10 mg/day or corticosteroid equivalent for ≥ 4 weeks are allowed

High-dose corticosteroid use within 4 weeks before randomization

Cannot have received: investigational agent

Investigational agent or any other agent intended for treatment MDS treatment