Articles tagged with: Lenalidomide
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Pomalidomide has demonstrated efficacy in heavily pre-treated multiple myeloma patients who have been treated with – or are even refractory to – Revlimid and Velcade.
Three studies of the use of pomalidomide (Pomalyst) in relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma patients were presented yesterday at the American Society of Hematology annual meeting in Orlando.
Pomalidomide, which is being developed by the pharmaceutical company Celgene, is an immunomodulatory agent that induces the immune system to destroy myeloma cells. It belongs to the same class of drugs as Revlimid (lenalidomide) and thalidomide (Thalomid). …
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According to a recent study, myeloma patients with the chromosomal abnormalities del(1p21) or del(17p) had shorter time to disease progression and lower overall survival rates while taking Revlimid-dexamethasone therapy than patients without those abnormalities.
Chromosomal abnormalities result from structural changes of the chromosome. These changes may occur through deletions, insertions, duplications, or movement of chromosomal regions. Chromosomal abnormalities are considered high-risk factors in multiple myeloma and have been an area of intensive research because they may render patients less responsive to certain treatments.
A series of prior studies have investigated the outcome …
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The combination of Velcade with Revlimid-dexamethasone treatment may help overcome the poor prognostic factors with certain chromosomal abnormalities more so than Revlimid-dexamethasone alone.
However, both treatment combinations were associated with an inferior response in patients with a deletion in chromosome 17. Additionally, prior resistance to thalidomide, increases in certain enzyme levels, and the presence of tumor cells outside of the bone marrow were also associated with poor outcomes in response to Revlimid-dexamethasone with or without Velcade.
In this recently published study, Greek researchers compared the efficacy of Revlimid (lenalidomide)-Velcade (bortezomib)-
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Natco Pharma Applies To Sell Generic Lenalidomide In The U.S. – The Indian drug company Natco Pharma filed a request with the Food and Drug Administration to market generic lenalidomide before Celgene’s patents on Revlimid (lenalidomide) expire in 2026. Revlimid is approved in the U.S. for the treatment of multiple myeloma as well as a collection of blood disorders called myelodysplastic syndromes. Investment analysts have speculated that the patent that extends Revlimid’s exclusivity from 2019 to 2026 is being challenged. Despite this application, the sale of generic lenalidomide is not likely for at least several years. Celgene plans to sue Natco for patent infringement, which would automatically result in a 30-month delay of Natco’s application to sell generic lenalidomide in order to settle the lawsuit. For more information, see the Dow Jones article.
Clinical Insights Education Program – The Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF) is sponsoring an education program about multiple myeloma clinical insights. The event will be held on September 8 in St. Louis. Myeloma experts Drs. Ravi Vij, Todd Zimmerman, Keith Stockerl-Goldstein, Shaji Kumar, and David Vesole will speak about the latest advances in frontline therapy, stem cell transplants, relapsed and refractory myeloma, supportive care, and clinical trials. There will also be a question and answer session. Registration will begin at 10 a.m., and the program will conclude at 3 p.m. A similar program will be held in Houston on October 15. For more information about the St. Louis program or to register, please see the MMRF website.
For a more detailed listing of myeloma-related events, please check the Myeloma Beacon Events Calendar.
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Results of a recent study suggest that etoposide used in combination with G-CSF is a safe and effective mobilization strategy prior to stem cell transplantation in multiple myeloma patients. The combination treatment resulted in a high stem cell harvest after one day of collection in most patients.
Stem cell mobilization is the process of increasing the number hematopoietic (blood forming) stem cells in the circulating blood to ensure that enough are available to be collected for the transplant. Hematopoietic stem cells are primarily found in the bone marrow and circulate in very …
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Eighth Canadian Province Approves Revlimid Funding – Revlimid (lenalidomide) in combination with dexamethasone (Decadron) is now funded and accessible in Manitoba, Canada for multiple myeloma patients who have been previously treated. Only two provinces, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, deny access to myeloma patients who do not have private insurance. Myeloma Canada, an organization dedicated to supporting myeloma patients, will continue campaigning for universal coverage of Revlimid. For more information, please see the Myeloma Canada press release.
Astex And MMRC Begin Phase 2 Study Of AT7519 For Myeloma – Astex Therapeutics has launched a Phase 2 clinical trial, funded by the Multiple Myeloma Research Consortium (MMRC), of AT7519 for relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma patients. AT7519 is a cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor that prevents the growth and spread of myeloma cells by interfering with cell division. Previous trials have shown it has significant anti-tumor effect. AT7519 will be tested alone and in combination with Velcade (bortezomib). For more information, see the MMRC press release.
IMF Will Hold Myeloma Patient And Family Seminar – The International Myeloma Foundation (IMF) will hold an educational program for multiple myeloma patients and their families on August 27 and August 28 in Universal City, CA. Doctors in the myeloma field will answer questions and cover topics such as managing side effects, current standard treatments, and on-going clinical trials. The cost for the seminar is $60 per person. For more information or to register, please see the IMF website.
For a more detailed listing of myeloma-related events, please check the Myeloma Beacon Events Calendar.
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A Phase 1 study found the four-drug combination of Revlimid-Velcade-dexamethasone-cyclophosphamide (RVCD) to be safe and effective in newly diagnosed, previously untreated multiple myeloma patients.
These results suggest that adding cyclophosphamide as the fourth drug in the treatment therapy may be just as or more effective than traditional two- and three-drug combinations. The study also determined that 500 mg/m2 cyclophosphamide, the highest dose tested, could safely be used in the RVCD drug combination.
Previous studies have shown that three-drug combinations can be very effective, including the Revlimid (lenalidomide)-Velcade (bortezomib)-dexamethasone …
