A disorder of hemoglobin, beta thalassemia is generally treated with blood transfusions to maintain red blood cell levels. A new drug treatment, called Reblozyl, could reduce the number of blood transfusions needed for people with beta thalassemia, says Jun H. Choi, MD, a hematologist–oncologist at NYU Langone Health’s Perlmutter Cancer Center.

“Reblozyl has been shown to help young immature blood cells from the bone marrow to mature more quickly and more stably, so blood cells can be released from the bone marrow and circulate in your bloodstream,” says Dr. Choi, also a clinical assistant professor in the Department of Medicine at NYU Grossman School of Medicine. “This is something that you really want to ask your doctor about when your blood transfusion requirement becomes too heavy and too burdensome.”

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