Perifosine Receives Orphan-Drug Designation – Keryx Biopharmaceuticals announced that perifosine has been designated an Orphan-Drug by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of multiple myeloma. This designation greatly improves the marketable opportunity of perifosine for Keryx. Keryx is also in an agreement with the FDA for a Special Protocol Assessment for a Phase 3 trial in relapsed multiple myeloma that is expected to begin by the end of 2009. For more information, please see the PRNewswire press release.

Coleman Foundation Grants Loyola $2 Million – On September 15 the Loyola University Medical Center received a $2 million grant from The Coleman Foundation. The grant will help pay for the renovation of Loyola’s bone marrow transplant unit. The bone marrow transplant unit renovation is included in a larger effort to complete an Oncology Acute Care Center at Loyola. For more information, please see the Medical News Today article. 

University Of Iowa Cancer Biology Researchers Receive Federal Grant – The University of Iowa Department of Radiation Oncology received over $3.7 million in federal funding from five grants that will allow continued cancer research. Researchers in the Department of Radiation Oncology are looking to improve our understanding of health risks involving low dose radiation to patients and workers. For more information, please see The University of Iowa news release.