By BlackDoctor Editor
BlackDoctor
https://blackdoctor.org/
Understanding essential thrombocythemia
Essential thrombocythemia (ET) is a rare type of blood disorder in which a person’s bone marrow makes too many blood platelets, which are the tiny cells that help your blood clot.¹ When your body makes too many platelets, it can lead to problems such as harmful blood clots, bleeding or headaches. It can sometimes cause even more serious problems, such as stroke or heart attack.¹
Who does ET affect?
ET affects more than 70,000 people in the U.S. While it can affect people of any age, it is more common in women than in men and is most common in people over the age of 50.² Additionally, while there is limited data available, ET is generally more common in Black adults living in the U.S. compared to other racial and ethnic groups.³
Clinical trials for ET
Clinical trials are research studies designed to learn how our bodies respond to investigational medicines and help researchers test new ways to help prevent, diagnose and treat diseases.
“Inclusive research is essential, especially for rare health conditions like ET,” said Michelle Chawla, Clinical Trial Diversity Program Lead at Merck. “When people from varied backgrounds are included and represented in clinical trials, we gain a clearer understanding of how investigational medicines work across populations.”
Merck is sponsoring two phase 3 clinical trials for adults aged 18 and older with ET at multiple U.S. locations. These trials are studying an investigational drug to see if it is safe and may work better than available treatments for people with ET.
- NCT06079879: This clinical trial is for adults with ET who have already taken hydroxyurea (a common treatment for ET), but it has not worked well for them. Researchers are comparing the investigational drug to other available treatments (which may include anagrelide, busulfan, interferon, or ruxolitinib). Learn more about this clinical trial.
- NCT06456346: This clinical trial is for adults with ET who have not taken hydroxyurea or any other cytoreductive (platelet-lowering) therapy but now require cytoreductive therapy. Researchers are comparing the investigational drug to hydroxyurea. Learn more about this clinical trial.
Both clinical trials are randomized, meaning participants are assigned by chance to different treatment groups, where some will receive the investigational drug being studied and others will not.
“We are committed to advancing research in this area,” noted Nati Lerman, Senior Clinical Director at Merck. “We are eager to evaluate a new investigational option for patients to determine how it compares with existing treatments,” added Uzor Ogbu, Senior Clinical Director at Merck.
Participation in these clinical trials is voluntary. People who volunteer to join the clinical trials are free to leave at any time, for any reason. The trial staff keeps participants’ personal information private. Participants may or may not directly benefit from study participation.
Learn more
For more information, talk to your doctor or learn more about the two clinical trials by visiting merckclinicaltrials.com.
References
- Cleveland Clinic. Essential Thrombocythemia. Accessed January 16, 2026.
- Voices of MPN. About Essential Thrombocythemia. Accessed January 16, 2026.
- Patel, R., DeRon Jr., N. Newly diagnosed essential thrombocythemia leading to cardiogenic shock: a case report. BMC Cardiovasc Disord. 2024;24:579.
