A drug combination including Revlimid (lenalidomide) as both an induction and maintenance therapy increases progression-free survival in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients over the age of 65 years, new Phase 3 research suggests. Researchers presented the preliminary results of the MM-015 clinical trial on December 7 at the 51st annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH) in New Orleans.

Currently, Revlimid is only approved in combination with dexamethasone (Decadron) to treat relapsed multiple myeloma patients, according to the United States Food and Drug Administration. This trial’s findings …

During this year’s meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH), there were several presentations about tanespimycin, a new drug currently being developed by Bristol-Myers Squibb and Kosan Biosciences. Tanespimycin inhibits Hsp90, which acts as a molecular chaperone for proteins critical to the growth, survival, and drug resistance of cancerous cells.  

Safety And Activity Profile Of Tanespimycin And Velcade From Phase 1/2 Study

One of the ASH presentations showed that the combination treatment of tanespimycin and Velcade (bortezomib) effectively targets Hsp90 in patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma. The treatment …

Researchers from Canada have found that long exposure to novel agents as well as achievement of higher response rates contribute to long-term survival in multiple myeloma patients.  They presented their findings at the American Society of Hematology Meeting (ASH) on December 6.

The term “long-term survivor” refers to a person who is alive for ten or more years following diagnosis of myeloma. Long-term survival is still unusual in multiple myeloma. Less than 10 percent of patients fall into the category of long-term survivors.

Velcade (bortezomib), thalidomide (Thalomid) and Revlimid (lenalidomide) …

In a recent Phase 3 trial, a Velcade (bortezomib) and dexamethasone (Decadron) combination resulted in the longest progression-free survival in multiple myeloma patients, including those at high risk. The study will be presented at the upcoming American Society of Hematology (ASH) meeting in New Orleans on Monday, December 7, 2009.

The trial compared the Velcade-dexamethasone combination (VD) with a vincristine, doxorubicin (Adriamycin), and dexamethasone combination (VAD). As induction therapies, VD and VAD reduce the number of cancer cells in the body before a patient undergoes high-dose chemotherapy and autologous …

Carfilzomib, which is a proteasome inhibitor under devel­op­ment as a treat­ment for multiple myeloma, has recently been shown to be a safe and effective treat­ment for myeloma patients with kidney failure, chromosomal ab­nor­mal­i­ties, or periph­eral neu­rop­athy. These results will be presented at the 51st American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting and Exposition in New Orleans December 5 through 8.

Additionally, ASH presenters will examine the effects of car­filz­o­mib in patients who have pre­vi­ously been treated with Velcade (bor­tez­o­mib) and in patients who are receiving car­filz­o­mib in com­bi­na­tion with Revlimid …

Preliminary results from several clinical trials testing carfilzomib (Kyprolis) for the treat­ment of multiple myeloma will be presented at the 51st American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting and Exposition in New Orleans December 5 through 8.

Carfilzomib, a proteasome inhibitor, is under devel­op­ment as a treat­ment for re­lapsed or refractory multiple myeloma. It is cur­rently in Phase 2 of clinical testing, which means that its safety and efficacy are being studied.

The ASH presenters will examine the effects of car­filz­o­mib in patients who have pre­vi­ously been treated with Velcade (bor­tez­o­mib); …

Results from a new study indicate that, in elderly multiple myeloma patients, a combination drug regimen of Velcade (bortezomib), melphalan (Alkeran), prednisone, and thalidomide (Thalomid) (VMPT), followed by a maintenance regimen of Velcade and thalidomide, is superior to the current standard treatment of Velcade, melphalan, and prednisone (VMP) without a maintenance regimen. The authors of the study will be presenting the results of the Phase 3 clinical trial at the upcoming American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting and Exposition.

In the study, scientists randomly assigned 511 myeloma …