Clinical Trial To Test Fenofibrate (Tricor) As Anti-Myeloma Therapy
Researchers at the University of Miami's Sylvester Cancer Center have started a Phase 2 clinical trial to test whether the cholesterol drug fenofibrate (Tricor) is effective, on its own, as an anti-myeloma therapy.
The trial is motivated by a preclinical study, which found that fenofibrate is toxic to multiple myeloma cells. In particular, fenofibrate appears to interfere with the ability of myeloma cells to purge themselves of proteins they produce. The proteins eventually accumulate within the cells to levels that are fatal to them.
Branded and generic versions of fenofibrate are already marketed in the United States and other countries. The drug was approved nearly 20 years ago by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a treatment for high cholesterol and high triglyceride levels.
The University of Miami fenofibrate trial is open to relapsed/refractory myeloma patients who have had at least two previous myeloma treatment regimens.
For more information about the trial, see the trial description at the U.S. clinical trial registry. For more information about the preclinical study investigating fenofibrate's potential as an anti-myeloma therapy, see either the final published study in the journal Cancer Chemotherapy and Pharmacology (abstract) or the pre-publication draft of the study (full-text).
The official U.S. prescribing information for fenofibrate is available at the FDA website.
Related Articles:
- Nelfinavir-Velcade Combination Very Active In Advanced, Velcade-Resistant Multiple Myeloma
- Nelfinavir Shows Only Limited Success In Overcoming Revlimid Resistance In Multiple Myeloma Patients
- bb2121 Continues To Impress As Potential New Multiple Myeloma Therapy (ASCO 2018)
- U.S. FDA Okays First Clinical Trial Of An Allogeneic CAR T-Cell Therapy For Multiple Myeloma
- Getting To Know: Tiragolumab
This sounds spectacular. Can't wait for full scale trials.
Bring it on! Tricor come munch on my myeloma cells! So wish this works as it would seem the side effects would be nil compared to current regimens !!!
I am on Lipitor now....maybe should ask my family doctor to switch me?
Thanks for the comments, Eric, Julie, and Terry.
Terry - Why don't you ask your doctor what he/she thinks? For what it's worth, there was research at one point that suggested that Lipitor (atorvastatin), and other drugs like it ("statins"), also might have an anti-myeloma effect. See, for example, this study,
http://carcin.oxfordjournals.org/content/26/5/883.full
There even was a clinical trial that was intended to test whether Lipitor might have an anti-myeloma effect,
http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00164086
We do not believe, however, that any results of that trial were ever published, which might suggest that the findings were not particularly positive.
So, sure, why not discuss Tricor as an alternative with your doctor?
If this works the cost of treating MM could be greatly impacted. The cost of generic Tricor vs Revlimid. Can you imagine if you had the option of switching how much it would save?!! Might even put some real competitive pressure on the drug companies to reduce drug costs. That would be nice.
Progress toward fundraising goal
for all of 2020:
15%
For more information, see the Beacon's
"2020 Fundraising: Goals And Updates" page