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CyDex Begins Dosing Of CDX-353 In Phase 2 Trial For Myeloma Patients – Cydex Pharmaceuticals announced yesterday that it is initiating patient dosing in its Phase 2 trial of Propylene Glycol-Free Melphalan HCL (CDX-353), the company’s new form of melphalan (Alkeran). The trial compares CDX-353 with GlaxoSmithKline’s Alkeran in multiple myeloma patients who will be undergoing stem cell transplants (see related Beacon news).  For more information, please see the CyDex press release and the clinical trial description.

Levact Receives Positive Opinion In Europe For Myeloma – On March 19, Mundipharma announced that the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has recommended approval of Levact (bendamustine) for patients with multiple myeloma, indolent non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL), and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). The drug is currently approved in the United States for CCL and NHL under the brand name Treanda. For more information, please see the Mundipharma press release.

Millenium Holds Web Cast About mymultiplemyeloma.com – On March 24 at 1 p.m. EST, Millennium Pharmaceuticals, the manufacturer of Velcade (bortezomib), will be hosting a Web cast on its soon-to-be-launched educational Web site mymultiplemyeloma.com. The Web cast will include presentations by an advanced practice nurse, an oncology social worker, and a myeloma patient. Registration is requested by calling (866) 508-6181.

For a more detailed listing of myeloma related events, please check the Myeloma Beacon Events Calendar.

Resources, Treatments»

Bortezomib (originally PS-341 and marketed as Velcade by Millennium Pharmaceuticals) is the first therapeutic proteasome inhibitor to be tested in humans. It is approved in the U.S. for treating relapsed multiple myeloma and mantle cell lymphoma. In multiple myeloma, complete clinical responses have been obtained in patients with otherwise refractory or rapidly advancing disease. [...]