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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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NCI Begins Study Of Smoldering Myeloma And MGUS Patients – The National Cancer Institute (NCI) is recruiting patients for a study aimed at identifying causes of transformation from precursor conditions, smoldering myeloma and monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS), to multiple myeloma. In addition, as previously reported at The Myeloma Beacon, the NCI is looking for relapsed or refractory myeloma patients for a Phase 2 study of AZD6244, a potential new treatment for multiple myeloma. This trial is still recruiting participants. For more information or to participate in either trial, please contact the research nurse, Mary Ann Yancey, at (301) 435-9227 or .

MorphoSys Receives Grant To Develop MOR202 For Multiple Myeloma – The German Federal Ministry of Education and Research awarded MorphoSys $1.26 million for the clinical development of its human antibody MOR202 for the treatment of multiple myeloma. Pre-clinical studies have shown that MOR202 effectively killed blood cancer cells. Clinical trials are expected to start in 2011. For more information, please see the MorphoSys press release.

CancerCare Sponsors Myeloma Education Workshop For Health Care Workers – The latest myeloma research will be presented during a virtual workshop, “Advances in the Treatment of Multiple Myeloma,” which will take place Wednesday, August 11, from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. EST. Although this workshop is intended for health care workers, the event is accessible and free to the public. For more information or to register, please see the CancerCare website.