At the upcoming meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH), there will be several presentations about Actimid (pomalidomide). Actimid, a new drug being developed by Celgene Corporation as a treatment for multiple myeloma, is a molecular derivative of thalidomide (Thalomid).

Actimid As A Combination Therapy With Dexamethasone

One of the ASH presentations will show that the combination regimen of Actimid and low-dose dexamethasone (Decadron) is an effective treatment for relapsed multiple myeloma.

Actimid was tested in combination with dexamethasone in 34 patients with relapsed myeloma following therapy with

A combination regimen of Velcade (bortezomib), Doxil (pegylated liposomal doxorubicin), and dexamethasone (Decadron), known as the VDD regimen, is highly effective for initial treatment of multiple myeloma, according to a recent article published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

Velcade, which is also approved for treatment as a single agent, suppresses tumor growth by inhibiting the enzymes that break down important proteins in cancerous cells. The second component of the VDD regimen, Doxil, blocks the process of DNA replication in cancerous cells, thus preventing them from multiplying. Finally, dexamethasone …

A recent study of newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients found that Revlimid (lenalidomide) and low-dose dexamethasone (Decadron) resulted in better short-term overall survival and fewer severe side effects than Revlimid and high-dose dexamethasone.  Results were so convincing after one year that the trial was stopped early.

For years, Revlimid plus high-dose dexamethasone has been a standard treatment for multiple myeloma.

“The results of the study have already changed practice worldwide,” said Dr. S. Vincent Rajkumar of the Mayo Clinic and lead author of the study.

In this study, 445 patients …

Patients with multiple myeloma and other blood cancers have a high risk of venous thromboembolism, or blood clotting, according to a recent study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. The rate of this complication is influenced by multiple factors, including the type of disease, the type of chemotherapy, and the use of catheters.

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a condition in which a blood clot forms in a vein, limiting the blood flow in the affected vein. Additionally, a piece of the clot can break off, travel through the vein, and block …

On Monday, Onyx Pharmaceuticals agreed to purchase Proteolix, the developer of the cancer drug carfilzomib (Kyprolis), for $276 million. Carfilzomib, which is Proteolix’s leading cancer drug, has dem­onstrated significant tumor-reduction activity in Phase 1 trials of patients with re­lapsed multiple myeloma.

Similar to Velcade (bor­tez­o­mib), car­filz­o­mib is a proteasome inhibitor that blocks the activity of these protein-destroying enzymes and induces cancer cell death. Carfilzomib is cur­rently undergoing Phase 2 trials on patients with re­lapsed multiple myeloma, for which data will be reported in late 2010. Phase 3 trials combining car­filz­o­mib with

A recent study published in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases evaluates the infection risk presented by different multiple myeloma therapies. The authors conclude that while current therapies, particularly high-dose regimens and novel agents, improve the outcomes of patients with myeloma, they also introduce a much greater risk of infection.

Myeloma impairs the quality and quantity of immune system proteins that an individual produces. As a result, more than 75 percent of myeloma patients will experience marked immune system depression, becoming vulnerable to potentially life-threatening infections. In fact, infections are the leading cause of death …

The Journal of Clinical Oncology has reported that a combination regimen of Actimid (pomalidomide) and low-dose dexamethasone (Decadron) in a Phase 2 clinical trial was highly effective in the treatment of relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma patients.

Actimid belongs to a class of therapeutic agents called immunomodulatory drugs (IMiDs), which are molecular analogs of thalidomide (Thalomid). Thalidomide acts on myeloma tumors by inhibiting the growth of new blood vessels. In addition to this mechanism, IMiDs prevent the development of abnormal tissue masses called neoplasms and induce programmed cell death. …