Articles tagged with: Celgene
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Myeloma-Related Presentations From The International Conference On Malignant Lymphoma – Three broad-ranging myeloma-related presentations were given at the recent International Conference On Malignant Lymphoma in Lugano, Switzerland, and full-text articles related to the presentations are available for free online. During the conference, Dr. Vincent Rajkumar from the Mayo Clinic spoke about initial therapy in myeloma, Dr. Leif Bergsagel from the Mayo Clinic discussed molecular classification and risk stratification in myeloma, and Dr. Philippe Moreau from the University Hospital in Nantes, France, discussed consolidation and maintenance therapy in multiple myeloma. The full-text articles from Dr. Rajkumar, Dr. Bergsagel, and Dr. Moreau are available from the journal Hematological Oncology.
Celgene And MorphoSys To Collaborate On Development Of MOR202 – The pharmaceutical companies Celgene and MorphoSys have announced that they will be collaborating on the development of the investigational drug MOR202 for the treatment of multiple myeloma and certain leukemias. MOR202 belongs to the same class of drugs as daratumumab and elotuzumab, called monoclonal antibodies. Like daratumumab, MOR202 binds to the CD38 molecule, which is found on the surface of multiple myeloma and other blood cancer cells. Once MOR202 is bound to the CD38 molecule on cancer cells, it signals for the immune system to kill the cells. The fact that MOR202 and daratumumab both target the CD38 molecule has sparked interest in MOR202's potential as a myeloma treatment, given the promising activity daratumumab has shown against myeloma in early-stage trials (see related Beacon news). MOR202 is currently being investigated in a Phase 1/2 trial for relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma. For more information, please see the related press release from Celgene and MorphoSys and the description of the MOR202 myeloma clinical trial.
Cancer Drug Erbitux Shows Limited Activity In Myeloma – Results of a recent, small Phase 2 clinical trial conducted in Germany show that the cancer drug Erbitux (cetuximab) has limited activity in relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma patients. Erbitux, which is already approved for treatment of colon cancer and head and neck cancer, also belongs to the class of drugs known as monoclonal antibodies. Among the 15 patients included in the study, 13 percent reached stable disease as best response to treatment with Erbitux alone. An additional 7 percent reached a partial response and 27 percent stable disease when dexamethasone (Decadron) was added to Erbitux treatment. Since Erbitux was safe according to the study investigators, they nevertheless recommend further development of Erbitux in combination with other agents in multiple myeloma. For more information, please see the study in the journal Leukemia & Lymphoma (subscription or purchase required).
Onyx Turns Down Amgen Acquisition Offer, Seeks Alternative Bids - Onyx Pharmaceuticals, the company that developed and markets the myeloma treatment Kyprolis (carfilzomib), reported over the weekend that it has received, and turned down, an acquisition offer from the biotech company Amgen. In response to Amgen's offer, Onyx said that it will seek and consider acquisition offers from other companies, although it also is leaving open the possibility that it will remain independent. Other companies which may be interested in acquiring Onyx, besides Amgen, include Pfizer, Bayer, Novartis, Genentech (Roche), and Celgene. In addition to Kyprolis, Onyx also is developing the potential new anti-myeloma therapy oprozomib, which, like Kyprolis, Velcade (bortezomib), and the investigational compound ixazomib (MLN9708), belongs to the class of drugs known as proteasome inhibitors. For additional information, please see the related press release from Onyx.
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OncoPep and Dana-Farber Sign License Agreement For Myeloma Vaccine Technology – The biotechnology company OncoPep has signed a license agreement with the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston to further develop and commercialize PVX-410, a potential vaccine-based treatment for multiple myeloma. PVX-410 has been shown to stimulate an immune response against myeloma cell lines. Researchers plan to conduct a Phase 1/2a study this year of PVX-410 in patients with smoldering multiple myeloma. OncoPep also hopes to use the PVX-410 technology to develop additional cancer vaccines. For more information, please see the OncoPep press release (pdf).
Celgene Invests $15 Million In Acetylon Pharmaceuticals – Celgene, the company that markets the myeloma treatments Revlimid (lenalidomide) and thalidomide (Thalomid), announced last week that it will invest $15 million in Acetylon Pharmaceuticals. Acetylon is developing ACY-1215, a selective HDAC inhibitor being investigated in a Phase 1/2 clinical trial with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma patients. Other HDAC inhibitors under investigation for multiple myeloma include Zolinza (vorinostat) and panobinostat. Acetylon hopes that ACY-1215, which is more selective than other HDAC inhibitors, will be more effective and have fewer side effects. For more information, please see the Acetylon press release.
Anti-Alcoholism Drug Antabuse May Be Active Against Myeloma – In a recent preclinical study, Italian researchers demonstrated that Antabuse (disulfiram), a drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat chronic alcoholism, has anti-myeloma effect. Antabuse, alone or in combination with copper, killed myeloma cell lines and cells from 22 newly diagnosed and relapsed/refractory myeloma patients. According to the Italian researchers, Antabuse was comparable to standard chemotherapy in terms of its ability to kill myeloma cells, but it did not harm healthy blood cells. For more information, please see the study in the International Journal of Cancer (abstract).
Generic Zometa Recommended For Approval In Europe – Zoledronic Acid Actavis, a generic version of Zometa (zoledronic acid) from the company Actavis, has received a positive recommendation for approval in the European Union. The committee that provides guidance to the European Medicines Agency (EMA) made the recommendation last week. If approved, Zoledronic Acid Actavis, like Zometa, will be available for use in the prevention of skeletal events in persons with advanced cancers involving bone, and for the treatment of tumor-involved high calcium levels. For more information, see the EMA announcement (pdf).
Cyclophosphamide-Velcade-Dexamethasone Combination Is Effective In Patients With Amyloidosis – Two research studies were published last week showing that a combination regimen used in the treatment of myeloma -- cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan) in combination with Velcade (bortezomib) and dexamethasone (Decadron), often abbreviated CyBorD or VCD -- may be effective in the treatment of amyloidosis. Amyloidosis is a blood disorder that results in the abnormal accumulation of proteins in tissues and organs throughout the body. An estimated 10 percent to 15 percent of myeloma patients also develop symptoms associated with amyloidosis (see related Beacon news). Stem cell transplantation is a standard treatment for amyloidosis patients who are eligible. One of the studies published last week was a retrospective study that showed that 94 percent of amyloidosis patients responded to CyBorD treatment, and 18 percent of patients who were initially ineligible for a stem cell transplant became eligible following the treatment. The second study also was a retrospective analysis. It found that 81 percent of amyloidosis patients responded to CyBorD treatment, and researchers also observed a rapid improvement in patients’ organ function. For more information, please see the first and second studies in the journal Blood (abstracts).
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A group of mainly European multiple myeloma researchers has issued a statement regarding the potential link between Revlimid and secondary cancer.
According to the statement, the group initially met in Paris on February 23, 2011 at a meeting arranged by Celgene, the company that developed and markets Revlimid (lenalidomide).
The group includes 12 well-known multiple myeloma researchers, almost entirely from Europe. Among the group's members are investigators from the CALGB 100104, IFM 2005-02, and MM-015 clinical trials, which are the three trials that last December reported data suggesting a possible connection between …
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Several investment bank reports published this week have heightened concern about a potential link between Revlimid and second cancers in multiple myeloma patients. The reports have unnerved investors to such a degree that the stock of Celgene, Revlimid’s manufacturer, is down almost nine percent since the middle of last week.
Apprehension about Revlimid (lenalidomide) and secondary cancer first surfaced in December during the American Society of Hematology (ASH) annual meeting. At the meeting, results were presented from three trials studying long-term Revlimid use. All three trials showed more cases of …
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New information was released last week regarding long-term treatment with Revlimid and a multiple myeloma patient’s risk of developing a second cancer.
The information is based on analyses prompted by results from three clinical trials presented at the American Society of Hematology meeting last month. In each of the three trials, more multiple myeloma patients receiving Revlimid maintenance therapy reported developing a secondary cancer than patients who did not receive maintenance therapy.
Celgene, the manufacturer of Revlimid (lenalidomide), announced the results of the follow-up analyses during a quarterly earnings conference …
Turkce»
Geçen ay, uzun süreli Revlimid tedavisi sonrası multipl miyelom hastalarında ikincil kanserlerin ortaya çıkmasıyla ilgili yeni bilgiler yayınlandı.
Bu bilgi, geçen Aralık'taki Amerikan Hematoloji Derneği toplantısında sunulan üç klinik deneyin sonuçlarının analizi sonucu ortaya çıkmıştır. Üç çalışmada da Revlimid idame tedavisi olan multipl miyelom hastalarında, idame tedavisi yapılmayan hastalarla karşılaştırıldığında daha çok ikincil kanserler gözlemlenmiştir.
Revlimid'in (Lenalidomid) üreticisi Celgene perşembe günü yatırımcılar ile olan çeyrek sonu telefon konferansında bu çalışmaların sonuçlarının analizini açıkladı.
Celgene'in CEO'su Robert Hugin ¨Revlimid idame tedavisi olan grupta daha yüksek oranlarda ikincil kanserler gözlemlenmiş olsa da, kontrol grubundaki …
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Celgene Seeks Expanded Approval For Revlimid In Europe – The pharmaceutical company Celgene announced on Tuesday that it is seeking expanded approval for Revlimid (lenalidomide) as treatment for multiple myeloma in Europe. The European Medicines Agency (EMA) will review approval of Revlimid for maintenance therapy of newly diagnosed myeloma patients who have not progressed after initial therapy with melphalan (Alkeran), prednisone, and Revlimid or after autologous stem cell transplantation. Currently, Revlimid is approved in combination with dexamethasone for the treatment of patients who have received at least one prior therapy. For more information, please see the Celgene press release.
ENMD-2076 Is Safe In Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma (ASH 2010) – The investigational drug ENMD-2076, which is being developed by the pharmaceutical company EntreMed, is safe in relapsed / refractory multiple myeloma patients, according to the interim Phase 1 trial results presented at the 2010 Meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH). Researchers tested four different dose levels (150 mg to 400 mg) in 28-day cycles. They observed progression of disease for all patients receiving the minimum dose of 150 mg. Patients receiving a dose of 300 mg achieved stable disease with reductions in serum M-protein. Researchers did not observe any dose-limiting side effects. Most side effects were mild to moderate and included nausea, diarrhea, and fatigue. The optimal dosage has not yet been determined as the trial is still ongoing. For more information, please see abstract 1957 on the ASH annual meeting website and the clinical trial description.
Daratumumab Emerges As Potential Treatment In CD38-Positive Multiple Myeloma – Preclinical results showed that the experimental drug daratumumab is highly effective at killing cancerous cells that produce the CD38 molecule. The Danish biotechnology company Genmab is currently developing daratumumab for treatment of CD38-positive multiple myeloma tumors. Researchers initially tested a broad array of CD38 antibodies against more than 10 primary tumors from myeloma patients, and daratumumab was found to be the most effective at executing the immune system killing mechanisms. Genmab is currently conducting a Phase 1/2 study to determine the safety and optimal dosage of daratumumab. For more information, please see the study in the Journal of Immunology (abstract) and the clinical trial description.
PBOX-15 Induces Cell Death In Multiple Myeloma Cells – Preclinical results demonstrated that the experimental drug compound PBOX-15 (1,5-benzoxazepine-15), discovered by Irish clinical scientists, is a promising treatment for multiple myeloma. Researchers found that PBOX-15 induced cell death in four different lines of multiple myeloma cells. In two of the cell lines, PBOX-15 increased the number of death receptor genes to stimulate cell death. For more information, please see the study in the British Journal of Cancer (abstract).