Beacon NewsFlashes – August 12, 2013
Velcade Receives Additional Approvals In Europe – The approved uses of Velcade (bortezomib) for multiple myeloma patients were recently expanded in the European Union. These additional approved uses include treatment of newly diagnosed transplant-eligible myeloma patients with Velcade plus dexamethasone (Decadron) or Velcade plus thalidomide (Thalomid) and dexamethasone, as well as retreatment of relapsed myeloma patients with Velcade for those who responded to prior Velcade therapy. Previously, Velcade was approved in combination with melphalan (Alkeran) and prednisone for the treatment of newly diagnosed myeloma patients who are ineligible for stem cell transplantation, or as a single agent for the treatment of relapsed myeloma patients with one prior therapy who have had a transplant or are ineligible for a transplant. For more information, please see the August 8 and June 28 Johnson & Johnson press releases about the new approvals for newly diagnosed and relapsed myeloma patients.
Pilot Clinical Trial To Test Whether Anti-Depressant Desipramine Assists With Stem Cell Mobilization – Researchers from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City have launched a clinical trial that will determine how well the antidepressant desipramine (Norpramin, Pertofrane) in combination with Neupogen (filgrastim), which is a type of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), works to mobilize stem cells in multiple myeloma patients undergoing stem cell transplantation. A previous study in mice showed that desipramine plus G-CSF mobilized more stem cells than G-CSF alone. For more information about the study or how to enroll, see the clinical trial description.
Clinical Trial To Study Modified Version Of Melphalan Plus Dexamethasone For Relapsed / Refractory Myeloma – A new Phase 1/2 clinical trial is testing the efficacy and safety of a modified version of melphalan in combination with dexamethasone for relapsed and refractory myeloma patients. The modified version of melphalan, known as melphalan-flufenamide or melflufen, is being developed by the Swedish pharmaceutical company Oncopeptides and consists of melphalan bound to flufenamide. The drug only becomes active once it enters a cell and melphalan is released from flufenamide. Cancer cells more efficiently activate the drug, increasing the concentration of melphalan in cancer cells compared to healthy cells. The study is sponsored by Oncopeptides and is being conducted in the United States and Europe. For more information about the study or how to enroll, see the clinical trial description and related Oncopeptides press release.
Related Articles:
- Adding Clarithromycin To Velcade-Based Myeloma Treatment Regimen Fails To Increase Efficacy While Markedly Increasing Side Effects
- Nelfinavir-Velcade Combination Very Active In Advanced, Velcade-Resistant Multiple Myeloma
- Nelfinavir Shows Only Limited Success In Overcoming Revlimid Resistance In Multiple Myeloma Patients
- Revlimid, Velcade, and Dexamethasone, Followed By Stem Cell Transplantation, Yields Deep Responses And Considerable Overall Survival In Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma
- Dr. Christoph Driessen On Nelfinavir In The Treatment Of Multiple Myeloma
That's great that Velcade has now been approved for expanded applications in the EU. Speaking from personal experience, the initial therapy I received with Velcade plus dex was a real life saver, and did not produce much in the way of lasting side effects! Bortezimib, the first proteasome inhibitor on the market, has helped countless patients in lowering the tumour burden of myeloma cancer cells.
i was seting here reading all comments about all the new chemos andproticals for mm. i haven't seen the genetic engineering t-cells mentioned. i know this is a clinical trial, but it is now being used and i think anytime you can use your own body cells to fight this hidious cancer you are better off. i am now 18 months out and have not taken any chemo and my new stem cells are replicating themselves.
i know there won't be a cure in my lifetime but this genetic engineering could not only work for mm but for many other diseases. that your t cell receptor can be changed to hunt down that diseased cell that causing the problem. not having to take chemo and not having noropathy it has been well worth it. i was diagnosed almost eleven years ago and have had two transplants, the first was standard stuff transplant then chemo. this 2nd was the clincal trial what a big difference.
Thanks for your comments, Nancy and Marty.
Marty - Congratulations on your appearance in the video news report that was recently done about the trial you've been participating in. Someone posted about it in the forum. Here's a link to the thread:
http://www.myelomabeacon.com/forum/t-cell-treatment-with-sct-for-myeloma-t2178.html
As you'll see in our own posting in the forum thread, we actually have written about your trial, and others like it, in the past. We don't write about such trials often, however, because there aren't many taking place, and not many results are being reported from the ones that are taking place.
Thanks, though, for reminding us about them.