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Don't Just Read the Abstract

Don't Just Read the Abstract

Written by: Richard Buka
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About this listen

Want to stay up-to-date on the very latest developments in non-malignant haematology? Don't have the time or skills to critically appraise important papers? Join Pip and Rich, two haematology doctors on a journey of learning and discovery. Each episode, they will discuss a seminal trial, critically appraise the paper, interview a study author, and discuss the implications of the trial on clinical practice with a subject expert. CPD credits are available from RCPath. The podcast is sponsored by Sobi as a hands-off educational grant. Sobi have no editorial input whatsoever.


This podcast helps you to go beyond the abstract, delving deep into the methods, results, subanalyses, and implications. Interviews with authors gives a real-life perspective on the running of a clinical trial allowing explanations of why they did what they did and good honest discussion on limitations and how they might do it differently next time.

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Richard Buka Hygiene & Healthy Living Science
Episodes
  • Ianalumab for ITP: VAYHIT2

    Ianalumab for ITP: VAYHIT2
    Feb 10 2026

    On this episode, Pip and Rich VAY-HIT2, a trial recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine. This study randomised patients with relapsed/refractory ITP after first line corticosteroids to eltrombopag + ianalumab or placebo.

    As the thrombopoietin receptor agonists such as eltrombopag are often given for extensive periods, there's a lot of interest in giving additional treatment that can result in a relatively short course of treatment. Ianalumab is an anti-B-Cell Activating Factor (BAFF) Receptor monoclonal antibody.

    VAY-HIT2 was a phase 3, randomised, double-blind trial, assigning, in a 1:1:1 ratio, adults with primary ITP and an insufficient response or a relapse after first-line glucocorticoid therapy to receive eltrombopag + ianalumab at a dose of 9 mg or 3 mg per kilogram of body weight or placebo once monthly for 4 months.

    The trial did meet its primary endpoint but there's a lot to discuss, most importantly the quality of life end points - and the interpretation is not straight forward!


    Conflict of interest disclosure here: Pip has received travel expenses and payment for attending an advisory board for Novartis. Pip is also leading a Novartis-sponsored UK audit of the treatment of warm autoimmune haemolytic anaemia on behalf of HaemSTAR (www.haemstar.org/TRUTH).

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    1 hr and 3 mins
  • Highlights of 2025 (Episode 2)

    Highlights of 2025 (Episode 2)
    Jan 9 2026
    In this second of a two-part episode, Pip and Rich discuss their highlights of 2025. They discuss a wide range of developments across medical haematology with a focus on red cells disorders and a bit less naval gazing than the first episode.

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    52 mins
  • Highlights of 2025 (Episode 1)

    Highlights of 2025 (Episode 1)
    Dec 26 2025
    In this first of a two-part episode, Pip and Rich discuss their highlights of 2025. They discuss a wide range of developments across medical haematology with a focus on bleeding disorders and immuno-haematology.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    56 mins
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