Preliminary results from several clinical trials testing carfilzomib (Kyprolis) for the treat­ment of multiple myeloma will be presented at the 51st American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting and Exposition in New Orleans December 5 through 8.

Carfilzomib, a proteasome inhibitor, is under devel­op­ment as a treat­ment for re­lapsed or refractory multiple myeloma. It is cur­rently in Phase 2 of clinical testing, which means that its safety and efficacy are being studied.

The ASH presenters will examine the effects of …

Results from a new study indicate that, in elderly multiple myeloma patients, a combination drug regimen of Velcade (bortezomib), melphalan (Alkeran), prednisone, and thalidomide (Thalomid) (VMPT), followed by a maintenance regimen of Velcade and thalidomide, is superior to the current standard treatment of Velcade, melphalan, and prednisone (VMP) without a maintenance regimen. The authors of the study will be presenting the results of the Phase 3 clinical trial at the upcoming American Society of Hematology (ASH) …

Preliminary results from an ongoing Phase 2 trial show that a combination therapy of Velcade (bortezomib) and Torisel (temsirolimus) is highly effective in reducing blood and urine levels of abnormal monoclonal protein (known as “M” protein) in multiple myeloma patients. The preliminary study results will be presented at the American Society of Hematology’s (ASH) 51st annual meeting in New Orleans on Monday, December 7.

Myeloma cells produce M proteins. Higher levels of M proteins are directly related to increased …

A study published in Annals of Hematology examined the relationship between serum albumin levels and disease severity in multiple myeloma patients. Results showed that lower levels of serum albumin are associated with greater disease severity.

Serum albumin is the most abundant protein in blood plasma in humans. A patient’s serum albumin level indicates the amount of albumin in grams per deciliter (g/dL) of serum. It is measured by a serum albumin test.

This study retrospectively examined 373 multiple myeloma patients …

A new study suggests that Velcade (bortezomib), in combination with other drugs, is a better treatment method for patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma than the previous standard drugs.

The study, titled “Velcade, Intravenous Cyclophosphamide, and Dexamethasone (VCD) Induction for Previously Untreated Multiple Myeloma (German DSMM XIa Trial),” will be presented on December 6 at the American Society of Hematology (ASH) Meeting in New Orleans.

The researchers compared a drug cocktail consisting of Velcade, cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan), and

Elderly people with multiple myeloma have better treatment options now than ten years ago. In the past decade, the introduction of thalidomide (Thalomid), Velcade (bortezomib), and Revlimid (lenalidomide) have improved patients’ response to treatment and increased survival time, even when used without stem cell transplants.

In the July issue of Current Opinion in Hematology, Dr. Donna E. Reece, a physician and researcher at the Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto, reviewed the current approaches to treating newly diagnosed …

At the upcoming meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH), there will be several presentations about Actimid (pomalidomide). Actimid, a new drug being developed by Celgene Corporation as a treatment for multiple myeloma, is a molecular derivative of thalidomide (Thalomid).

Actimid As A Combination Therapy With Dexamethasone

One of the ASH presentations will show that the combination regimen of Actimid and low-dose dexamethasone (Decadron) is an effective treatment for relapsed multiple myeloma.

Actimid was tested in combination …