Articles tagged with: NICE
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U.K. Agency Approves Thalidomide And Velcade For Newly Diagnosed Myeloma Patients – The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), the agency that decides which treatments will be funded for patients in England and Wales, approved funding for thalidomide (Thalomid) and Velcade (bortezomib) for certain newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients. According to the final guidelines, NICE approved thalidomide for patients ineligible for stem cell transplantation. Due to Velcade’s higher cost, it was approved for the same patients only if they are unable to tolerate thalidomide. Both drugs are supposed to be given in combination with an alkylating agent – e.g., melphalan (Alkeran) or cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan) – and a corticosteroid – e.g., dexamethasone (Decadron) or prednisone. For more information, see the NICE website.
Australian Myeloma Specialist Receives Lifetime Achievement Award – Dr. Douglas Joshua, a myeloma expert at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Australia, received the Robert A. Kyle lifetime achievement award last month from the International Myeloma Foundation for his work over the past 40 years in the field of multiple myeloma. Dr. Joshua is the head of the Myeloma Research Unit and Bone Marrow Transplant Unit at his hospital and has led basic and clinical research in myeloma. For more information, see the Sydney Central.
San Diego Area Workshop For Myeloma Patients And Family – The International Myeloma Foundation will hold a free, one-day workshop for myeloma patients and their family members on August 13 in La Jolla, CA. Myeloma specialist Dr. Morie Gertz from the Mayo Clinic and two other guest speakers will discuss topics important to myeloma patients and answer attendees’ questions. The workshop will begin at 8:30 a.m. at the Sheraton La Jolla and will last until 3 p.m. Lunch will be provided. For more information or to register, see the International Myeloma Foundation website.
For a more detailed listing of myeloma-related events, please check the Myeloma Beacon Events Calendar.
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NICE Does Not Change Assessment Of Velcade For Myeloma – The National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE), the agency that decides which treatments will be funded for patients in England and Wales, announced last week that it will not change its assessment of Velcade (bortezomib) for use in multiple myeloma. In its draft guidance issued last August, NICE recommended Velcade and thalidomide (Thalomid) as first-line treatments for multiple myeloma patients ineligible for stem cell transplant or high-dose chemotherapy. However, Velcade was only recommended as a first-line treatment for patients who cannot tolerate thalidomide. Janssen-Cilag, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson that markets Velcade in Europe, appealed the draft guidance; however, NICE continues to consider thalidomide more cost effective. The final NICE decision is expected in July. For information, please see a related Bloomberg article.
MD Anderson Cancer Center Announces Start Of Phase 1 Trial With CEP-18770 In Myeloma – The MD Anderson Cancer Center announced last week that it will be starting a Phase 1 trial to test the efficacy and safety of CEP-18770 in combination with Revlimid (lenalidomide) and dexamethasone (Decadron) in relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma patients. CEP-18770 is a boronic acid-based proteasome inhibitor, like Velcade, that is being developed by the biopharmaceutical company Cephalon. It suppresses tumor growth by inhibiting the enzymes that break down important proteins in cancerous cells. Animal studies showed that CEP-18770 demonstrated superior activity to Velcade, and it caused fewer side effects during treatment. For more information, please see the clinical trial description.
Immune System Therapeutics Expands Phase 2 Trial For MDX-1097 In Myeloma – The Australian bio-therapeutic company Immune System Therapeutics announced last week that it will be expanding the ongoing Phase 2 clinical trial of its investigational drug MDX-1097 to include up to 27 myeloma patients. MDX-1097 is an antibody that binds to certain proteins on the surface of myeloma cells, triggering the immune system to kill the cancer cells. Immune System Therapeutics decided to extend the trial after it received a positive review for the efficacy and safety of the first six patients enrolled in the study from an independent data monitoring committee. For information, please see the Immune System Therapeutics press release.
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The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, an organization that decides which treatments will be made available under the state-funded National Health Service in the United Kingdom, recommended thalidomide as a first line of treatment for multiple myeloma patients in a draft guidance published August 26. Velcade was also recommended as a first line of treatment, but only for patients unable to tolerate thalidomide.
This draft guidance follows a previous draft published by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) on June 2, which recommended both thalidomide (Thalomid) …
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U.K. Agency Recommends Velcade and Thalidomide For Myeloma Patients – The National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE), the agency that decides which treatments will be funded for patients in England and Wales, released a final draft guidance on June 2 recommending that Velcade (bortezomib) and thalidomide (Thalomid) can be used as first-line treatments for multiple myeloma patients who are not candidates for stem cell transplants. Both drugs are currently recommended as second-line treatments. The final guidance deciding the use of Velcade and thalidomide in the U.K. is expected later this year. For more information, please see the NICE website.
15th Congress Of The European Hematology Association – As a reminder to Beacon readers, the European Hematology Association (EHA) will hold its 15th meeting from June 10 to 13 in Barcelona, Spain. European researchers and physicians will meet to present the latest research findings about multiple myeloma and other blood disorders. The Myeloma Beacon will also be covering the event on its website. For more information, please visit the EHA Congress website.
MMRF Race For Research – On June 13, the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF) will hold a Race For Research 5K Walk/Run in New Canaan, CT, to raise awareness and funds for multiple myeloma research. Registration is scheduled for 7:30 a.m., and the race starts at 9 a.m. For more information, 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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San Diego International Triathlon – On June 28, the 26th annual San Diego International Triathlon will begin at 5:15 a.m. and end at noon. The race will be held at Spanish Landing Park, and The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team In Training (TNT) will be participating. The race benefits St. Vincent de Paul Village, America’s top rehabilitation center for homeless and those in need. To join Team In Training for the triathlon, visit the TNT Web site.
The Price Of Life – Directed by Adam Wishart, this BBC documentary is the first to film the decision-making process of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE). NICE is an independent organization that provides medical opinions to the National Health Service (NHS), the government-funded health care system in the U.K. The documentary gives insight into NICE’s process of deciding whether or not Revlimid (lenalidomide) should be approved for use and funded by the NHS. It also gives the perspective of patients and an American drug company. For more information, please visit BBC Web site.
For a more detailed listing of myeloma related events, please check the Myeloma Beacon Events Calendar.
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In England and Wales, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has finalized guidelines for the use of Revlimid (lenalidomide) in combination with dexamethasone (Decadron). The guidelines recommend the use of Revlimid for myeloma patients who have already received two or more prior therapies.
NICE is an independent organization that provides medical opinions to the National Health Service (NHS), the government-funded health care system in the U.K.
Based on NICE’s recommendation, the NHS will only pay for Revlimid for patients who have received at least two prior therapies. …
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On April 23, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) announced its final decision to recommend coverage of Revlimid (lenalidomide) in England and Wales. NICE has endorsed Revlimid in combination with dexamethasone (Decadron) for the treatment of multiple myeloma in patients who have already received prior therapies.
Revlimid is a therapeutic agent that has often proven to be effective in the treatment of relapsed patients. Clinical trials report extended survival times and recession in signs and symptoms in the majority of patients.
In the U.K., NICE decides which …