Aeterna Zentaris And Yakult Honsha Sign Licensing Agreement For Myeloma Drug Perifosine – Canadian drug developer Aeterna Zentaris signed a licensing agreement with the Japanese company Yakult Honsha last week for the development, commercialization, and marketing of the cancer drug perifosine ^[1] in the Japanese market. Under the terms of the agreement, Aeterna Zentaris will receive an upfront payment of US $8.3 million, up to US $60.9 million in milestone payments, and royalty payments on sales in Japan. Perifosine is an oral anti-cancer treatment that is currently being investigated in two Phase 3 clinical trials for the treatment of myeloma and colorectal cancer in Europe and the United States. It works by interfering with the cell membrane in myeloma cells to promote cell death. For more information, please see the Aeterna Zentaris ^[2] press release.

Disruption Of Src Enzyme Results In Increased Myeloma Cell Death – Pre-clinical results showed that inactivation of the Src enzyme in myeloma cell lines caused increased self-induced myeloma cell death. The Src enzyme is necessary for Chk1 inhibitors, molecules that bind to the Chk1 enzyme, to allow myeloma cells to divide by following a route called the EKR1/2 pathway. Disruption of Src prevented Chk1 inhibitors from activating this pathway, inhibiting myeloma cell division and increasing the anti-myeloma properties of Chk1 inhibitors. For more information, please see the study in the journal Blood ^[3] (abstract). 

Multiple Myeloma Patient Program On March 22 And March 26 – Millennium Pharmaceuticals, the maker of Velcade ^[4] (bortezomib), is hosting two free educational events for myeloma patients to ask questions for myeloma specialists and to connect with others who have been affected by myeloma. The programs will be held in Kansas City, MO, on March 22 and in Linthicum, MD, on March 26. Patients may register by calling 1-866-508-6181.

Living With Myeloma Conference On March 26 – The Arizona Myeloma Network is hosting a free regional conference on March 26 at the Scottsdale Marriott for myeloma patients, their families, and caregivers. Myeloma researchers, physicians, and healthcare professionals will present current information about myeloma. The conference aims to facilitate discussion of up-to-date myeloma research and to increase understanding about the disease for patients to make better treatment choices. For more information, please see the Arizona Myeloma Network ^[5] website.

For a more detailed listing of myeloma-related events, please check the Myeloma Beacon Events Calendar ^[6].