Lenalidomide
Myelodysplastic syndromes
### Myelodysplastic syndromes

Lenalidomide was approved by the FDA in December 2005, for people with low\- or intermediate\-1\-risk [myelodysplastic syndromes](/wiki/Myelodysplastic_syndrome "Myelodysplastic syndrome") who have [chromosome 5q deletion syndrome](/wiki/Chromosome_5q_deletion_syndrome "Chromosome 5q deletion syndrome") (5q\- syndrome) with or without additional [cytogenetic abnormalities](/wiki/Cytogenetic_abnormalities "Cytogenetic abnormalities"). It was approved on 17 June 2013 by the [European Medicines Agency](/wiki/European_Medicines_Agency "European Medicines Agency") for use in patients with low\- or intermediate\-1\-risk myelodysplastic syndromes who have 5q\- deletion syndrome but no other cytogenetic abnormalities and are dependent on [red blood cell](/wiki/Red_blood_cell "Red blood cell") [transfusions](/wiki/Blood_transfusion "Blood transfusion"), for whom other treatment options have been found to be insufficient or inadequate.


Why was lenalidomide approved for use in patients with low- or intermediate-1-risk MDS and 5q deletion syndrome but no other cytogenetic abnormalities who are dependent on red blood cell transfusions?