Phase 1 Trial Of All-Oral Ricolinostat-Revlimid-Dexamethasone Combo Begins – Acetylon Pharmaceuticals announced last week the initiation of a Phase 1b clinical trial of ricolinostat (ACY-1215) in combination with Revlimid (lenalidomide) and dexamethasone (Decadron) for the treatment of patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma. Ricolinostat is an oral treatment that belongs to a family of anti-cancer drugs called HDAC inhibitors. Other HDAC inhibitors under investigation for multiple myeloma include Zolinza (vorinostat) and panobinostat. Acetylon …

Results from a recent retrospective study con­firm that treat­ment with a com­bi­na­tion of Revlimid and dexa­meth­a­sone slows disease pro­gres­sion and im­proves survival in elderly patients with re­lapsed or refractory myeloma.

However, findings from the study also indicate that certain side effects, such as anemia and blood clots, occurred more frequently in elderly patients.

Novel agents such as Revlimid (lena­lido­mide), thalidomide (Thalomid), and Velcade (bor­tez­o­mib) are commonly used to treat re­lapsed and refractory myeloma.

A pre­vi­ous study found …

The number of bone lesions detected by whole-body magnetic resonance imaging after stem cell transplantation may predict overall survival of multiple myeloma patients, according to the results of a recent German study.

In particular, patients without bone marrow lesions after stem cell transplantation had significantly better two-year overall survival rates (100 percent) than patients with more than 20 bone marrow lesions (57 percent).

“In our study, we found a negative prognostic effect of residual lesions after therapy,” said Dr. Jens …

Kyprolis Is Now Available In The United States – The newly approved myeloma treat­ment Kyprolis (car­filz­o­mib) is available on the U.S. market starting today. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Kyprolis on July 20 for the treat­ment of multiple myeloma patients who have received at least two prior ther­a­pies (see related Beacon news). Physicians can now prescribe Kyprolis to myeloma patients throughout the U.S. To learn more about the recent FDA approval of Kyprolis and …

Results from a small British Phase 2 study suggest that therapy with a combi­nation of cyclophosphamide, thalidomide, and dexamethasone may deepen multiple myeloma patients’ responses after stem cell transplantation. In addition, the combination therapy was well tolerated.

However, the British scientists note that larger randomized trials are required to confirm these results.

“The results suggest that post-transplant consolidation therapy with a multi-drug regimen such as cyclophosphamide-thalidomide-dexamethasone may improve the depth of response in the aftermath of autologous transplantation,” said Dr. …

Results from a recent German study suggest that a combination of Revlimid, Treanda and prednisone is active and well tolerated in patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma.

Findings from the Phase 1 trial were presented at the 17^th Congress of the European Hematology Association (EHA) in Amsterdam last month.

A previous Phase 1 study showed that Treanda (bendamustine), in combination with Revlimid (lenalidomide) and dexamethasone (Decadron), is well tolerated and highly active in patients with relapsed …

Subcutaneous Velcade Gets Positive Opinion From European Advisory Committee – An advisory committee of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has granted a positive opinion recommending European approval of subcutaneous Velcade (bortezomib). The committee’s decision was based on results of a Phase 3 study demonstrating that subcutaneous Velcade is as effective as intravenous Velcade but associated with fewer and less serious side effects.  Updated, longer-term results of the Phase 3 study were recently published in the journal Hematologica (abstract).  The EMA …