Innate Pharma And Celgene To Collaborate On Trial Combining Revlimid With IPH 2101 Therapies – Innate Pharma and Celgene will collaborate to evaluate the clinical potential of Celgene’s Revlimid (lenalidomide) plus Innate Pharma’s IPH 2101 in myeloma patients who have failed first-line therapy. In vitro studies on myeloma cell lines have shown that the two drugs may have a synergistic effect. Innate Pharma hopes to submit a request with the Food and Drug Administration in early 2010 to receive …

Coverage Of Velcade For Myeloma Is Expanded In Scotland – The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) has approved the use of Velcade (bortezomib) for multiple myeloma patients who have relapsed after at least one prior therapy and who have previously undergone or are unable to receive a bone marrow transplant. Previously, Scottish patients were required to fail at least two treatments before being eligible to receive Velcade. Under the deal, Velcade’s manufacturer, Janssen-Cilag, has agreed to cover the cost of …

Dr. Ken Anderson Elected Officer To American Society Of Hematology – Dr. Ken Anderson is one of five newly elected officers to the American Society of Hematology’s (ASH) Executive Committee. Dr. Anderson is a renowned hematologist specializing in the treatment of multiple myeloma. He will begin serving his four-year term in January 2010. For more information, please see the ASH press release.

Revlimid Covered By Australian Government – Revlimid (lenalidomide) is now listed for the treatment of myeloma …

UAMS Receives $19.5 Million Grant For Multiple Myeloma Program – The Myeloma Institute at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) will receive $19.5 million over five years from the National Cancer Institute (NCI). The grant is the fourth renewal of continuous funding from the NCI and will allow for continued research on myeloma and the development of new treatments. For more information, please visit the UAMS Web site.

MMRF’s Fall Gala Raises Over $1.8 Million For Multiple …

FDA Requests Additional Information For Prolia Approval – Amgen Inc. announced on Monday that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has requested additional information needed for the agency to complete its review of Prolia (denosumab).  Amgen has applied to the FDA to have Prolia approved for the treatment and prevention of postmenopausal osteoporosis.  In its recent information request, the FDA asked Amgen for all updated Prolia safety data as well as more details about Amgen's proposed post-marketing surveillance program for …

MMRF Fall Gala – On October 24, the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF) is hosting a Fall Gala at the Hyatt Regency in Greenwich, CT. The MMRF will honor Hoda Kotb, co-host of “Today” and correspondent on “Dateline NBC,” with the Spirit of Hope Award for her efforts in advancing cancer awareness. A reception will begin at 6 p.m., and dinner will be served at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $275 each. For more information or to reserve seats, please visit …

Nobel Prize Winners – Elizabeth Blackburn, Carol Greider, and Jack Szostak received the Nobel Prize in medicine for discovering an enzyme called telomerase. The telomerase enzyme is responsible for repairing the ends of chromosomes, which lead to cancer and aging when damaged. Since its discovery, telomerase has been researched extensively for treatment of many cancers, including multiple myeloma. Many treatments and applications using telomerase are currently in clinical trials. For more information, please visit the Examiner Web site.

Managing …