Onyx Pharmaceuticals announced this morning that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has set a date for an advisory committee meeting to review the com­pany’s application for approval of car­filz­o­mib.

Onyx (NASDAQ: ONXX) has applied to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to have carfilzomib (Kyprolis) approved for treat­ment of re­lapsed and refractory multiple myeloma patients who have had at least two prior ther­a­pies.

The Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee (ODAC), which advises the FDA regarding the potential approval of new …

Celgene Corporation announced this morning that it has completed submission of its application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the approval of pomalidomide as a treatment for relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma.

If the FDA approves pomalidomide based on this application, Celgene could begin marketing pomalidomide in the United States as early as this fall.

Pomalidomide (Pomalyst), which belongs to the same class of drugs as thalidomide (Thalomid) and Revlimid (lenalidomide), is being developed by Celgene …

The results of an Italian Phase 3 study show that consolidation therapy with a combination of Velcade, thalidomide, and dexamethasone is more effective in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients than treatment with thalidomide and dexamethasone alone.

Specifically, the three-drug regimen led to higher rates of complete responses, as well as longer progression-free survival, compared to the two-drug regimen.

“Analyses performed in our study demonstrate that VTD [Velcade-thalidomide-dexamethasone] consolidation therapy significantly contributed to improved clinical outcomes,” said lead study investigator Dr. …

We do not choose chronic illness – it chooses us. Being tapped on the shoulder by multiple myeloma is an invitation into a deeper experience of life, whether we like it or not.

Expressive writing is a useful practice for mining the depths of what is inside. Support groups frequently draw upon writing exercises, and studies have found that writing actually promotes true healing.

For those who want to use writing practice for self-discovery, I recommend a simple exercise beginning …

A recent study suggests that Mozobil helps multiple myeloma patients with prior exposure to Revlimid collect enough stem cells for transplantation.

The study investigators conclude that stem cell mobilization with the aid of a growth factor plus Mozobil (plerixafor) is an effective upfront approach for multiple myeloma patients who plan to undergo a transplant, regardless of previous Revlimid (lenalidomide) exposure.

“With growth factor and preemptive Mozobil, virtually all patients with multiple myeloma can have successful stem cell collection,” said …

Two to three years.

That's what the first doctor told me the average survival for multiple myeloma was.

Not long after my diagnosis, I was making a list of things I needed to take care of while I could and, for all practical purposes, starting to plan my own funeral.

Fortunately, my second doctor was more knowledgeable about multiple myeloma, and between him and a lot of Internet research, I've since come to realize overall survival varies considerably and depends …

The results of a Greek analysis show that elderly multiple myeloma patients do not respond as well to treatment as their younger counterparts. However, the results also show that novel agents extend the overall survival of elderly myeloma patients compared to conventional chemotherapy.

The Greek researchers point out that their analysis was retrospective in nature and that controlled clinical trials targeting the elderly population are necessary to properly assess their response to novel agents such as Velcade (bortezomib),