OICR Announces $2.25 Million In Funding Toward Cancer Research — On April 22, the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research (OICR) announced that it would invest $2.25 million in five promising early-stage cancer technologies. One recipient of the award, Dr. Aaron Schimmer of the Princess Margaret Hospital Cancer Program in Toronto, has identified a proteasome inhibitor (5AHQ) that may be used to stop development of multiple myeloma tumors. Because 5AHQ operates using a different mechanism from another commonly used proteasome inhibitor, Velcade ^[1] (bortezomib), 5AHQ may be used as a primary treatment agent for patients that are Velcade-resistant. To learn more about 5AHQ and the OICR grant, see the press release by the CNW Group ^[2].

GRN163L Clinical Trails For Multiple Myeloma — Relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma patients are being recruited for a Phase 1 trial involving GRN163L, a drug that inhibits telomerase. Telomerase is an enzyme that is essential for sustained cell proliferation in many malignant tumors. These Phase 1 clinical trails will test for safety and tolerability as well as disease response. For more information about the Phase 1 study, visit the ClinicalTrials ^[3] Web site. To learn more about GRN163L, see the press release by the Geron Corporation ^[4].

For a more detailed listing of myeloma-related events, please check the Myeloma Beacon Events Calendar ^[5].