Results of a small preclinical study conducted at the Karmanos Cancer Center in Detroit indicate that the oral anesthetic dyclonine may enhance the anti-myeloma activity of Velcade.

Dyclonine is the active ingredient in the Sucrets brand of sore throat lozenges, which are sold over-the-counter in drugstores and other retailers in Canada and the United States.  Sucrets lozenges are marketed by Insight Pharmaceuticals.

The Karmanos researchers conducted laboratory tests of dyclonine's activity against the so-called "RPMI8226" line of myeloma cells, which is commonly used in pre-clinical testing of potential myeloma therapies.  The study …

Cambridge, MA (Press Release) – Millennium: The Takeda Oncology Company with its parent com­pany, Takeda Pharma­ceu­tical Company Limited (TSE:4502), today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Admin­istra­tion (FDA) has approved VELCADE® (bor­tez­o­mib) for the retreatment of adult patients with multiple myeloma (MM) who had pre­vi­ously responded to VELCADE ther­apy and re­lapsed at least six months fol­low­ing completion of prior VELCADE treat­ment. The labeling update in­cludes dosing guidelines as well as safety and efficacy findings for the use of VELCADE as a single agent or VELCADE in com­bi­na­tion with dexa­meth­a­sone in patients …

French researchers earlier this week published updated results of a small Phase 2 clinical trial testing the combination of Revlimid, Velcade, and dexa­metha­sone (RVD) in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma pa­tients.

The researchers found that RVD, when given before and after stem cell trans­plan­ta­tion – and when followed by maintenance therapy with Rev­limid – led to very deep treatment responses and significant survival rates.

The 31 newly diagnosed patients in the French trial initially were treated with three cycles of RVD therapy.  Next, the trial participants underwent autologous (own) stem cell transplants, followed …

This year’s American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting in Chicago ended last Tuesday.

The day before the meeting ended was the busiest day at the meeting with re­gard to myeloma research.  It featured a session of oral pre­sen­ta­tions in the morn­ing and a poster session in the afternoon. In addi­tion, an education ses­sion was held in the afternoon that included one myeloma-related talk, given by Dr. Leif Bergsagel of the Mayo Clinic, about progress in the treat­ment of mul­ti­ple myeloma (article in the ASCO 2014 Edu­ca­tional Book).

This update …

London (Press Release) - People newly diag­nosed with the blood cancer multiple myeloma will now be guaranteed access to bor­tez­o­mib, also known as Velcade.

Multiple myeloma develops from cells in the bone marrow. Almost 4,000 cases are diag­nosed every year in the UK. There is cur­rently no cure; there are only treat­ments to stop its progress and relieve symp­toms.

NICE's independent experts examined the use of bor­tez­o­mib for newly diag­nosed patients who are eli­gible for high-dose chemo­ther­apy and who are suitable for bone marrow trans­plant (haematopoietic stem cell trans­plan­ta­tion). The experts were looking …

Findings from a prospective Phase 2 clinical trial indicate that the com­bi­na­tion of Revlimid, Velcade, and dexamethasone is effective in relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma patients.

The trial enrolled 64 patients, who had been treated with a median of two prior therapies, at six different U.S. cancer centers from 2006 to 2008.

Nearly two-thirds of the patients in the trial achieved at least a partial re­sponse, despite the fact that more than half of the patients had previous­ly been treated with Velcade (bortezomib), and nearly three quarters had previously been …