Results of a small preclinical study conducted at the Karmanos Cancer Center in Detroit indicate that the oral anesthetic dyclonine may enhance the anti-myeloma activity of Velcade.

Dyclonine is the active ingredient in the Sucrets brand of sore throat lozenges, which are sold over-the-counter in drugstores and other retailers in Canada and the United States.  Sucrets lozenges are marketed by Insight Pharmaceuticals.

The Karmanos researchers conducted laboratory tests of dyclonine's activity against the so-called "RPMI8226" line of myeloma cells, which is commonly used in pre-clinical testing of potential myeloma therapies.  The study …