The patients with MPD have a genetic mutation in the JAK2 gene. The mutation causes an overproduction of blood cells which may evolve into blood diseases such as polycythemia vera (abnormal increase in red blood cells), essential thrombocytosis (overproduction of platelets) and primary myelofibrosis (bone marrow replaced by fibrous tissue).

In a press release issued Monday, the University of California in San Diego said researchers in a collaborative study found the compound TG101348 supplied by a private biotech company TargeGen blocked the JAK2 mutation and reverse the disease in cell cultures and in mice that are engineered to have MPD.

Last month, TG101348 entered the phase of human clinical trials to test its toxic side effects.

The researchers reported their finding on the latest issue of Cancer Cell on Monday. The journal also published a parallel study by Harvard Medical School which yielded similar results.