FDA Approves Generic Doxil – The FDA recently approved a generic version of Doxil (doxorubicin liposomal), a drug used to treat several different cancers, including multiple myeloma. Doxil was in limited supply from August 2011 to October 2012 due to manufacturing problems.  However, the generic version will be readily available in 20 mg or 50 mg vials. Doxil kills cancers cells by damaging their DNA. When used as a treatment for multiple myeloma, the drug is typically combined with …

Results from a small German study indicate that a stem cell transplant using the patient’s own cells, followed by a transplant using cells from a donor, may improve the prognosis of multiple myeloma patients with high-risk chromosomal abnormalities.

Patients in the study who had high-risk chromosomal abnormalities had similar rates of molecular remission, which is a more stringent form of a complete response, and progression-free survival as patients without high-risk chromosomal abnormalities.

According to the German researchers, their findings show …

SF1126 Shows Promise As A Treatment Option For Myeloma Patients – Findings from a preclinical study suggest that the Semafore Pharmaceuticals’ investigational drug SF1126 may have anti-myeloma activity and may enhance the effect of Velcade (bortezomib). Similar to perifosine and GDC-0941, SF1126 works by inhibiting an enzyme in cancer cells known as phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K). This disrupts the cell division cycles and triggers cancer cell death. The investigators found that SF1126 inhibited myeloma growth …

Results from a recent, small-scale study conducted at the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston suggest that three Velcade-based combination therapies given at lower doses over a short period of time may be safe and effective in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients .

In particular, two out of the three combinations showed overall response rates of above 90 percent, and all combinations were associated with few side effects.

Based on their findings, the researchers conclude that the tested combinations are …

Phase 1 Clinical Trial To Study SST0001 In Advanced Multiple Myeloma Patients – The pharmaceutical company Sigma-Tau has launched a Phase 1 trial of the investigational drug SST0001 in heavily pre-treated, relapsed multiple myeloma patients. Two cancer centers – one in Italy, another in Israel – are currently participating in the trial.  SST0001 was designed to be chemically similar to the blood thinner heparin, without actually being a blood thinner.  Like heparin, SST0001 inhibits the activity of heparanase, an enzyme believed to …

Findings from a retrospective study of stem cell transplantation among U.S. and Canadian multiple myeloma patients show that the technique has become more common in the past 15 years.

In addition, the outcomes associated with the procedure have improved over time.

“There was progressively improved survival for multiple myeloma patients managed with autologous stem cell transplantation as an initial therapy,” said Dr. Luciano Costa from the Medical University of South Carolina, who presented the results at the American Society for …

Daratumumab con­tinues to show promise for re­lapsed and refractory multiple myeloma patients. Results from a Phase 1/2 study indicate that dara­tu­mu­mab may be effective and safe in heavily pre­treated patients.

In particular, dara­tu­mu­mab's activity as an anti-myeloma agent seems at least as good as that of the newest myeloma ther­a­pies.

“The response to dara­tu­mu­mab was accompanied by the clearance of myeloma cells,” said Dr. Torben Plesner from the Vejle Hospital in Denmark, who presented the findings from the dara­tu­mu­mab trial …