# Srđan Verstovšek
**Srdan Verstovsek** (Srđan Verstovšek) is a hematologist-oncologist who has served as Chief Medical Officer of Kartos Therapeutics since March 2023; previously, at MD Anderson in Houston, he held the United Energy Resources, Inc. Professorship of Medicine and directed the Hanns A. Pielenz Clinical Research Center for Myeloproliferative Neoplasms in the Department of Leukemia.[3](https://www.pvreporter.com/dr-srdan-verstovsek-joins-kartos-therapeutics-as-cmo/) He formerly was a Professor of Medicine at MD Anderson and directed the Hanns A. Pielenz Clinical Research Center for Myeloproliferative Neoplasms (MPN) there in the Department of Leukemia.[1](https://mediaplayer.mdanderson.org/video-full/D07D0644-F170-4EA1-88B8-5F354DB7A52E) • [3](https://www.pvreporter.com/dr-srdan-verstovsek-joins-kartos-therapeutics-as-cmo/) He is known for leading the pivotal trials that brought the first drugs for myelofibrosis (a rare bone-marrow cancer causing scarring, anemia, and enlarged spleen) to patients: he was first author of the 2012 New England Journal of Medicine report of COMFORT-I, the trial behind ruxolitinib's approval for myelofibrosis, and of the 2023 Lancet report of MOMENTUM, which established momelotinib for patients with anemia.[2](https://onco.cc/people/srdan-verstovsek/)
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Field | Hematology/oncology; myeloproliferative neoplasms |
| Training | MD and PhD[4](https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221206005240/en/Ajax-Therapeutics-Appoints-Srdan-%E2%80%9CSerge%E2%80%9D-Verstovsek-MD-PhD-to-Scientific-Advisory-Board) |
| Signature work | COMFORT-I, first author, *New England Journal of Medicine*, 2012[5](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/03/120301084258.htm) |
## Education and career
Verstovsek was a Professor of Medicine at MD Anderson before joining Kartos in March 2023.[3](https://www.pvreporter.com/dr-srdan-verstovsek-joins-kartos-therapeutics-as-cmo/)
## Role at MD Anderson
MD Anderson describes Verstovsek as the founder and director of the largest MPN clinical research center worldwide.[3](https://www.pvreporter.com/dr-srdan-verstovsek-joins-kartos-therapeutics-as-cmo/) An earlier institutional profile counted more than 60 such trials.[1](https://mediaplayer.mdanderson.org/video-full/D07D0644-F170-4EA1-88B8-5F354DB7A52E) The center's program page lists the field's regulatory approvals, from ruxolitinib in 2011 to momelotinib in 2023.[6](https://www.mdanderson.org/research/departments-labs-institutes/programs-centers/clinical-research-center-for-myeloproliferative-neoplasms/mission-objectives.html)
## Representative work
His signature paper is the COMFORT-I report, *A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial of Ruxolitinib for Myelofibrosis*, published in the *New England Journal of Medicine* on March 1, 2012 ([DOI 10.1056/NEJMoa1110557](https://doi.org/10.1056/nejmoa1110557)).[5](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/03/120301084258.htm) More than 300 patients at about 70 sites took part in the phase 3 trial, which was funded by Incyte and led by investigators at MD Anderson and the [Mayo Clinic](https://www.edgepedia.org/mayo-clinic), with Verstovsek as first author.[5](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/03/120301084258.htm) The results led the FDA to approve ruxolitinib on November 16, 2011 for intermediate- or high-risk myelofibrosis, the first JAK1/2 inhibitor approved for the disease; later follow-up analyses of COMFORT-1 and COMFORT-2 documented a marked impact of ruxolitinib versus control in prolonging survival.[6](https://www.mdanderson.org/research/departments-labs-institutes/programs-centers/clinical-research-center-for-myeloproliferative-neoplasms/mission-objectives.html) According to UT MD Anderson, he was an author of the 2015 *New England Journal of Medicine* trial report behind ruxolitinib's December 4, 2014 approval for polycythemia vera.[6](https://www.mdanderson.org/research/departments-labs-institutes/programs-centers/clinical-research-center-for-myeloproliferative-neoplasms/mission-objectives.html)
In 2023, according to the report published in *The Lancet* (volume 401, pages 269–280), he was first author of MOMENTUM, a double-blind phase 3 trial of momelotinib, an oral JAK1/JAK2 inhibitor, against danazol in symptomatic, anemic myelofibrosis patients previously treated with a JAK inhibitor.[7](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37517413/) • [8](https://touchhaematology.com/myeloproliferative-disorders/conference-hub/srdan-verstovsek-momelotinib-as-a-potential-treatment-for-myelofibrosis-patients-with-anaemia-findings-from-the-momentum-phase-iii-clinical-trial/) The trial enrolled about 160 patients at 107 sites across 21 countries between April 24, 2020 and December 3, 2021; 20% of momelotinib patients achieved a 50% or greater reduction in total symptom score at week 24 versus 7% on danazol (p=0.0095), with grade 3 or higher anemia in about 50% versus 60%.[9](https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(22)02036-0/abstract) On September 15, 2023, momelotinib received regulatory approval for intermediate- or high-risk myelofibrosis with anemia, based on MOMENTUM and a SIMPLIFY-1 cohort.[6](https://www.mdanderson.org/research/departments-labs-institutes/programs-centers/clinical-research-center-for-myeloproliferative-neoplasms/mission-objectives.html)
## Recent developments
Momelotinib's approval in September 2023 gave myelofibrosis patients with anemia a treatment option targeting the anemia.[6](https://www.mdanderson.org/research/departments-labs-institutes/programs-centers/clinical-research-center-for-myeloproliferative-neoplasms/mission-objectives.html) A 2026 review of ASH 2025 highlighted emerging agents including the clone-directed INCA033989, the phlebotomy-sparing rusfertide, and epigenetic combinations with pelabresib.[10](https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40164-026-00813-0)
## References
1. Emil J Freireich Hematology Grand Rounds, Speaker profile: Srdan Verstovsek, MD, PhD. https://mediaplayer.mdanderson.org/video-full/D07D0644-F170-4EA1-88B8-5F354DB7A52E
2. Srdan Verstovsek · Person · OnCo. https://onco.cc/people/srdan-verstovsek/
3. Dr. Srdan Verstovsek Joins Kartos Therapeutics As CMO. https://www.pvreporter.com/dr-srdan-verstovsek-joins-kartos-therapeutics-as-cmo/
4. Ajax Therapeutics Appoints Srdan "Serge" Verstovsek, MD, PhD, to Scientific Advisory Board. https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221206005240/en/Ajax-Therapeutics-Appoints-Srdan-%E2%80%9CSerge%E2%80%9D-Verstovsek-MD-PhD-to-Scientific-Advisory-Board
5. Drug offers relief for symptoms of myelofibrosis, according to multisite study. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/03/120301084258.htm
6. Approved MPN Treatments & MPN Clinical Trials | UT MD Anderson. https://www.mdanderson.org/research/departments-labs-institutes/programs-centers/clinical-research-center-for-myeloproliferative-neoplasms/mission-objectives.html
7. Momelotinib versus danazol in symptomatic patients with anaemia and myelofibrosis (MOMENTUM), PubMed. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37517413/
8. Srdan Verstovsek: Momelotinib as a potential treatment for myelofibrosis patients with anaemia. https://touchhaematology.com/myeloproliferative-disorders/conference-hub/srdan-verstovsek-momelotinib-as-a-potential-treatment-for-myelofibrosis-patients-with-anaemia-findings-from-the-momentum-phase-iii-clinical-trial/
9. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(22)02036-0/abstract
10. Emerging agents and regimens for myeloproliferative neoplasms: updates from ASH 2025 Annual Meeting. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40164-026-00813-0
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Life and health › Life and health scientists › Medical and health researchers › Hematology and blood disorder researchers › Leukemia and AML researchers*
*Initially written Sep 21, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 25, 2026; Sep 30, 2026 · Edited: Sep 25, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 11, 2026; Oct 15, 2026 · Last review: Sep 30, 2026*
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