The results of a recent Phase 2 clinical trial suggest that siltuximab in com­bi­na­tion with dexa­metha­sone may be effective for some multiple myeloma patients resistant to prior dexa­metha­sone-containing treatments. However, siltuximab in combination with high-dose dexa­metha­sone may be associated with a high rate of serious side effects.

Dr. Peter Voorhees from the Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, presented these results at the 2011 American Society of Hematology (ASH) conference in San Diego last month.

Although Dr. Voorhees and his colleagues concluded that the combination of siltuximab and dexa­metha­sone …

Combined data from two recent Phase 1 clinical trials suggest that twice-weekly marizomib, with or without low-dose dexamethasone, may be effective for patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma.

Dr. David Vesole from the John Theurer Cancer Center in Hackensack, New Jersey, who was not involved in the study, described marizomib as having “modest activity in relapsed/refractory myeloma.”

Dr. Paul Richardson from the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston presented the results at the American Society of Hematology (ASH) annual meeting in San Diego last month.

Marizomib (NPI-0052), which is being developed by …

The results of a small Phase 1 clinical trial demonstrate that BT-062, a new drug specifically targeting multiple myeloma cells, shows activity and is tolerable in heavily pretreated multiple myeloma patients.

Dr. Sundar Jagannath of the Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City presented the results at the 2011 American Society of Hematology (ASH) conference in San Diego last month.

Based on the favorable safety and activity of BT-062, a Phase 1/2 clinical trial has been initiated and is currently recruiting patients. It will use a more frequent dosing …

Interim results from a Phase 2 study show that panobinostat may be clinically beneficial for certain multiple myeloma patients with advanced disease.

In the study, patients who had relapsed and were no longer responsive to Velcade-based treatments received panobinostat in combination with Velcade and dexamethasone.

Although the results generally are being viewed as favorable, “It is hard to interpret them because you don’t really know how the patients would have done with just Velcade and dexamethasone alone,” explained Dr. Leif Bergsagel, a myeloma specialist from the Mayo Clinic in Arizona, in a …

The most recent results of a Spanish Phase 3 clinical trial indicate that Revlimid in combination with dexamethasone delays disease progression in smoldering multiple myeloma patients who have a high risk of developing symptomatic disease.

Specifically, the results showed that high-risk smoldering multiple myeloma patients who received Revlimid plus dexamethasone had a longer time to disease progression and better overall survival than patients who did not receive treatment.

However, the Spanish researchers acknowledged that these results should be confirmed by long-term follow-up data, especially regarding the difference in overall survival.

Dr. Ola …

Four clinical trials presented at the American Society of Hematology (ASH) 2011 annual meeting in San Diego last month suggest that Zolinza, in combination with a number of approved myeloma drugs, may be a treatment option for relapsed and treatment-resistant multiple myeloma patients.

However, results of a key Phase 3 trial involving the drug were disappointing, and they call into question whether the drug will receive formal FDA approval as a treatment for myeloma.

Zolinza (vorinostat), which is marketed by the U.S. pharmaceutical company Merck (NYSE: MRK), is an oral drug already …

Pomalidomide was one of the potential new myeloma treatments in the spotlight at the 2011 meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH) held earlier this month.

The consensus is that the drug, a chemical relative of thalidomide and Revlimid, performed well during its time on the stage.

Research findings about pomalidomide (Pomalyst) were summarized in four of the meeting’s oral presentations and a number of poster presentations.

Most of these presentations examined pomalidomide’s efficacy and safety as a potential treatment for relapsed and refractory myeloma patients.

Physicians …