Beacon NewsFlashes - October 26, 2011
Perifosine Combination Therapy May Be An Effective Treatment Option For Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma - Recently published results from a multicenter Phase 1/2 clinical trial demonstrate that the addition of perifosine to a Velcade (bortezomib) and dexamethasone (Decadron) regimen is effective and safe in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma patients. The results were previously presented at the American Society of Hematology’s (ASH) 51st Annual Meeting in 2009. The novel combination showed promising response rates in heavily pretreated patients, particularly those relapsed or refractory to Velcade treatment. Additionally, the treatment regimen resulted in few side effects. A Phase 3 clinical trial comparing a perifosine and Velcade plus dexamethasone regimen to Velcade and dexamethasone in relaspsed/refractory patients is currently underway. For a more detailed summary of the results, please see the Beacon’s coverage of the ASH presentation or the study in the Journal of Clinical Oncology (abstract).
Preclinical Study Shows Tysabri Decreases Multiple Myeloma Cell Growth – Results of a recent preclinical study showed that the drug Tysabri (natalizumab) inhibited growth of multiple myeloma cells and sensitized myeloma cells to Velcade. Tysabri is currently approved for the treatment of multiple sclerosis and Crohn’s disease. Based on these results, the study authors suggested clinical studies for the evaluation of Tysabri in combination with novel agents such as Velcade. For more information, please see the article in the British Journal of Haematology (abstract).
Enrollment For Masitinib Clinical Trial Begins - The pharmaceutical company AB Science has started recruiting multiple myeloma patients for a Phase 3 trial of its investigational drug masitinib. Masitinib works by impairing several factors required for growth in tumor cells and has already shown promise in clinical trials for pancreatic cancer. The current trial is designed to study the efficacy and safety of masitinib in combination with Velcade and dexamethasone in relapsed multiple myeloma patients who have received one previous therapy. Nearly 300 patients will be enrolled across 75 national and international centers. Masitinib, sold in the U.S. under the brand name Kinavet, already has a conditional approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as a treatment for certain skin tumors in dogs. For more information on patient enrollment for the masitinib myeloma clinical trial, please see the AB Science press release.
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Conditionally approved by the FDA for use in ... dogs? Gotta love it!
Dexamethasone has more side effects than are healthy rational or wise unless of course you are interested in boosting the multi nat conglomerations of the pharma industry that currently run the world.
I lived with the side effects in my husband for many years.
In the end, these side effects precluded family life for us and our 8 year old daughter and so the last year of his life was spent hiding away from people in his immediate living space.
The Consultant who prescribed the drugs vociferously, denied the side effects and refused to take on board anything about the drug. He also refused the offer to come and reside with us in order to experience these effects first hand. I believe he was instrumental in manufacturing and patenting the drug. Corrupt? Immoral? Hippocratic oath one step into the world of commercial gain, too far? Yes to all the above.
Clinical trials are never to be trusted as generated and funded by drug companies and for drugs.
The people who made this drug are eveil incarnate and deserve to be exposed. I imagine they will be.
Yours sincerely,
Anita Sandall
I am truly saddened to read Anita's comments re: the horrible effects of her husband's reactions to dexamethasone. I can't imagine how devastating this has been. For her Consultant not to address the severity of Anita's concerns is egregious. I'm sorry that they had to go through this.
While dex has lots of less-than-desirable side effects, Anita's account, thankfully, seems untypical of most of the myeloma dex stories I've heard from other MM patients. We certainly know that patients react in different ways to various facets of treatment.
My own experience has included dosages from 40mg per day for 4 or 5 days during several M-VTD-PACE infusion cycles. For the last 95 weeks, I have taken 12mg once per week on the day of my weekly Velcade maintenance infusion. It makes sense that a lower dosage and less frequency of dex seems to bring about fewer side effects.
I have no idea how much dex Anita's husband was prescribed, but I am convinced that dex has been an effective part of my treatment. Yes - I've read many of the studies. No - I don't work in the pharmaceutical industry. Just my opinion.
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