EMPOWERING MYELOMA ADVOCACY ACROSS EUROPE 
EMPOWERING MYELOMA ADVOCACY ACROSS EUROPE
We are delighted to anounce that the MPE report on Myeloma Patient Perspectives is being launched today, Friday 14 June 2013. Printed copies are available at EHA 2013 in Stockholm. Please feel free to pick up a copy at the EHA MPE booth (table top C14:11) from 14-16 June 2013. For more information on these report, please send an email to
MPE will be represented by several delegates at the 18th EHA congress in Stockholm (13-16 June 2013). We also have a booth where printed versions of our key documents and recent publications will be provided, such as the MPE report on Myeloma Patient Perspectives, the executive summary of the report, a summary of our strategic plan 2013-2018 and the Clinical Trial Charter developed by MPE.
The Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) within the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has adopted a positive opinion, recommending the granting of a marketing authorisation for Pomalidomide (Pomalidomide Celgene®) in the treatment of multiple myeloma for relapsed and refractory myeloma patients. The next step is for the European Commission to adopt the final licensing decision within three months. There is no doubt that this is a crucial step for patients within the EU…
The MC held in Madrid on 13 April 2013 was a great success. We had the honour to have with us some highly qualified speakers who specialise in personalised medicine. Also the ethical implications of personalised medicine were discussed in depth.
Madrid, Saturday 13 April 2013 (9:00am – 4:30pm) After the success of MPe’s I Masterclass that took place in Edinburgh last year, the second one will follow this spring focusing on myeloma genetics and the role of bio banks. The issue will be presented and discussed from a medical point of view, but also from the patient perspective, particularly concerning the ethical issues involved in these kind of treatments.
On the 12 March Aeterna Zentaris announced the discontinuation of their Phase III myeloma study of perifosine subsequent to a recommendation by the Data Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB). According to the DSMB, the pre-planned interim analysis of efficacy and safety indicates that the study may not reach the significant difference in progression free survival, the primary endpoint.
As part of the European Bone Marrow Transplant (EBMT) group’s annual conference, there will be a Patient and Family Day on Saturday 6 April 2013. The EBMT Annual Meeting is the most important annual event for research and education in the field of bone marrow transplantation in Europe and during the conference a special Patient and Family Day will be held for patients who have undergone a bone marrow transplant and their families.
Celgene Corporation has proposed that ‘Pomalyst’ will be the new brand name for its drug, pomalidomide. The announcement comes ahead of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency’s (EMA) review of the company’s application to approve pomalidomide as a new treatment for relapsed and refractory myeloma patients.
The results of the latest in a number of studies suggest that the people involved in the rescue and recovery operation following the September 11 attack at the World Trade Center are at an increased risk of developing myeloma and other cancers. Published in the December 2012 issue of the prestigious Journal of the American Medical Association, the study involved an analysis of the information collected from 55,778 people enrolled in the World Trade Center…
