LLS Increases Financial Support For Myeloma Patients - As of Feb 1, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) will provide multiple myeloma patients with up to $10,000 to cover insurance-related expenses such as co-payments and insurance premiums. The new limit is an increase from the pre­vi­ous limit of $5,000 and is retroactive for expenses beginning July 1, 2009. For more in­­for­ma­tion or to apply, please see the LLS Co-Pay Assistance ^[1] Web site.

Carfilzomib Phase 3 Clinical Trial Design Is Approved – Onyx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced that it has reached an agreement with the Food and Drug Administration on the design and analysis of a Phase 3 clinical trial evaluating carfilzomib ^[2] in re­lapsed myeloma. The study follows up a Phase 1B trial that examined car­filz­o­mib in com­bi­na­tion with Revlimid ^[3] (lena­lido­mide) and dexamethasone ^[4] (Decadron) (see related Beacon ^[5] news). The Phase 3 trial is expected to begin in early to mid 2010, and the Phase 1b/2 study ^[6] of this com­bi­na­tion regi­men is still recruiting participants. For more in­­for­ma­tion, please see the Onyx ^[7] press release.

Cancer Vaccine Produces Positive Results In Multiple Myeloma Patient – Results from a study evaluating the effects of a high dose cancer vaccine in patients with multiple myeloma, myelodysplastic syn­dromes ^[8], and acute myeloid leukemia showed positive immune responses in several patients. The vaccine helps the immune system kill cancer cells by building up anti­bodies to a protein called RHAMM, which is asso­ci­ated with cancer pro­gres­sion. In one of the three myeloma patients, the vaccine led to a decrease of the patient’s free light chains, from 10.3 mg/L to 2.26 mg/L. Side effects were limited to mild redness and in­fec­tion of the skin. For more in­­for­ma­tion, please see the journal Haematologica ^[9] (pdf).