A Study Comparing Imetelstat Versus Best Available Therapy for the Treatment of Intermediate-2 or High-risk Myelofibrosis (MF) Who Have Not Responded to Janus Kinase (JAK)-Inhibitor Treatment

This is a multicenter study with 2 arms, and will include 3 phases: a) screening phase of up to 28 days before randomization during which participants will complete a 14-day washout period from all prior therapies including JAK-inhibitor treatment, and the participant's eligibility will be reviewed; b) treatment phase, from randomization until study treatment (imetelstat or BAT) discontinuation; and c) post treatment follow-up phase, that begins when the participant discontinues treatment, and will continue until death, lost to follow-up, withdrawal of consent, or study end, whichever occurs first. Participants will be randomized (2:1) into 2 Arms (Arm A will receive imetelstat and Arm B will receive BAT).

Participants who meet progressive disease criteria and discontinue BAT, may crossover to receive imetelstat treatment after sponsor's approval.

Inclusion criteria

• Diagnosis of primary myelofibrosis according to the revised World Health Organization criteria or post-essential thrombocythemia-MF or post-polycythemia vera-MF according to the IWG-MRT criteria
• Dynamic International Prognostic Scoring System intermediate-2 or high-risk MF
• Relapsed/refractory to JAK-inhibitor treatment as defined in either inclusion (i), (ii) or (iii) and not eligible for allogeneic stem cell transplantation (ASCT) at screening:

• (i) Treatment with JAK-inhibitor for >= 6 months duration, including at least 2 months at an optimal dose as assessed by the investigator for that participant and at least one of the following:

• no decrease in spleen volume (< 10% by MRI or CT) from the start of treatment with JAK-inhibitor
• no decrease in spleen size (< 30% by palpation or length by imaging) from the start of treatment with JAK-inhibitor
• no decrease in symptoms (< 20% by Myelofibrosis Symptom Assessment Form [MFSAF] or myeloproliferative neoplasm SAF) from the start of treatment with JAK-inhibitor
• a score of at least 15 on TSS assessed using the MFSAF v4.0 during screening.
• (ii) Treatment with JAK-inhibitor treatment for>= 3 months duration with maximal doses (e.g., 20-25 mg twice daily ruxolitinib) for that participant and no decrease in spleen volume/size or symptoms as defined in inclusion criterion (i [a, b, or c]).
• (iii) Following maximum tolerated doses of JAK inhibitor therapy for ≥3 months duration, having documented relapsed disease defined as either

• Increase in spleen volume from time of best response by 25% measured by MRI or CT, or
• Increase in spleen size by palpation, CT, or ultrasound

• (b.i) For splenomegaly of 5-10 cm at the start of JAK inhibitor treatment, at least 100% increase in palpable spleen size from time of best response;
• (b.ii) For splenomegaly of > 10 cm at the start of JAK inhibitor treatment, at least 50% increase in palpable spleen size from time of best response;

AND not a candidate for further JAK inhibitor at screening per investigator.

• Measurable splenomegaly demonstrated by a palpable spleen measuring >= 5 cm below the left costal margin or a spleen volume >= 450 cm^3 by MRI or CT
• Active symptoms of MF on the MFSAF v4.0 demonstrated by a symptom score of at least 5 points (on a 0 to 10 scale)
• Hematology laboratory test values within the protocol defined limits
• Biochemical laboratory test values must be within protocol defined limits
• Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status score of 0, 1, or 2
• Participants should follow protocol defined contraceptives procedures
• A woman of childbearing potential must have a negative serum or urine pregnancy test at screening

Exclusion criteria

• Peripheral blood blast count of >= 10% or bone marrow blast count of >=10%
• Known allergies, hypersensitivity, or intolerance to imetelstat or its excipients
• Prior treatment with imetelstat
• Any chemotherapy or MF directed therapy, including investigational drug regardless of class or mechanism of action, immunomodulatory or immunosuppressive therapy, corticosteroids greater than 30 mg/day prednisone or equivalent, and JAK-inhibitor treatment less than equal to 14 days prior to randomization
• Diagnosis or treatment for malignancy other than MF except:

• Malignancy treated with curative intent and with no known active disease present for >= 3 years before randomization
• Adequately treated non-melanoma skin cancer or lentigo maligna without evidence of disease
• Adequately treated cervical carcinoma in situ without evidence of disease
• Known history of human immunodeficiency virus or any uncontrolled active systemic infection requiring IV antibiotics
• Active systemic hepatitis infection requiring treatment (carriers of hepatitis virus are permitted to enter the study), or any known acute or chronic liver disease requiring treatment unless related to underlying hepatosplenomegaly due to MF
• Major surgery within 28 days prior to randomization
• Any life-threatening illness (e.g., coronavirus disease-2019), medical condition, or organ system dysfunction which, in the investigator's opinion, could compromise the participant's safety, interfere with the imetelstat metabolism, or put the study outcomes at undue risk