People with high-risk, smoldering multiple myeloma who are treated with Revlimid (lenalidomide) and dexamethasone (Decadron) take longer to progress to full-blown multiple myeloma than their counterparts, according to interim results of an ongoing Phase 3 study. Researchers presented the findings at the American Society of Hematology’s (ASH) 51st Annual Meeting.

“For the first time, we are seeing a study which is addressing the question of the early treatment of patients with smoldering myeloma,” said Dr. Brian Durie, a physician with the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles and a founder …

Preliminary results from a Phase 3 clinical trial show that multiple myeloma patients who received Revlimid (lenalidomide) following a stem cell transplant had a significantly longer period of disease-free survival compared with a placebo group.

The trial (known as CALGB 100104) began with 568 multiple myeloma patients ages 18 to 70 years. No patients had a prior transplant or were treated for myeloma for longer than a year.

All participants received an autologous stem cell transplant, in which their own stem cells were collected prior to high-dose chemotherapy with melphalan …

The 2009 American Society of Hematology (ASH) Meeting showcased several presentations on Zolinza (vorinostat), a histone deacetylase inhibitor developed by Merck Pharmaceuticals that is currently investigated for the treatment of multiple myeloma.

Zolinza alters the way a cancer cell’s DNA creates proteins, which is important in cancer treatment because such a drug can slow down cell proliferation, minimize mutations in DNA and control cell death.

Zolinza With Revlimid And Dexamethasone

Preliminary data from an ongoing Phase 1 study suggest that the combination treatment of Zolinza, Revlimid (lenalidomide) and …

A drug combination including Revlimid (lenalidomide) as both an induction and maintenance therapy increases progression-free survival in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients over the age of 65 years, new Phase 3 research suggests. Researchers presented the preliminary results of the MM-015 clinical trial on December 7 at the 51st annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH) in New Orleans.

Currently, Revlimid is only approved in combination with dexamethasone (Decadron) to treat relapsed multiple myeloma patients, according to the United States Food and Drug Administration. This trial’s findings …

During this year’s meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH), there were several presentations about tanespimycin, a new drug currently being developed by Bristol-Myers Squibb and Kosan Biosciences. Tanespimycin inhibits Hsp90, which acts as a molecular chaperone for proteins critical to the growth, survival, and drug resistance of cancerous cells.  

Safety And Activity Profile Of Tanespimycin And Velcade From Phase 1/2 Study

One of the ASH presentations showed that the combination treatment of tanespimycin and Velcade (bortezomib) effectively targets Hsp90 in patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma. The treatment …

Researchers from Canada have found that long exposure to novel agents as well as achievement of higher response rates contribute to long-term survival in multiple myeloma patients.  They presented their findings at the American Society of Hematology Meeting (ASH) on December 6.

The term “long-term survivor” refers to a person who is alive for ten or more years following diagnosis of myeloma. Long-term survival is still unusual in multiple myeloma. Less than 10 percent of patients fall into the category of long-term survivors.

Velcade (bortezomib), thalidomide (Thalomid) and Revlimid (lenalidomide) …

Preliminary results from several clinical trials testing carfilzomib (Kyprolis) for the treat­ment of multiple myeloma will be presented at the 51st American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting and Exposition in New Orleans December 5 through 8.

Carfilzomib, a proteasome inhibitor, is under devel­op­ment as a treat­ment for re­lapsed or refractory multiple myeloma. It is cur­rently in Phase 2 of clinical testing, which means that its safety and efficacy are being studied.

The ASH presenters will examine the effects of car­filz­o­mib in patients who have pre­vi­ously been treated with Velcade (bor­tez­o­mib); …