ASCO 2019 myeloma highlights

More than 40,000 people attended the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting (ASCO 2019) which was held in Chicago from 31 May until 4 June. This meeting brings together oncology and haematology professionals from across the globe to discuss the latest scientific and treatment developments in the field. A number of myeloma topics were presented in this important scientific meeting. The most important updates are outlined below.

ASCO 2019 – Good results of the anti-BCMA Bispecific T cell engager (BiTE) immunotherapy in relapsed or refractory myeloma patients

  ASCO 2019, Chicago – New data of a first-in-human (FIH) phase I dose escalation study evaluating AMG 420, a B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA)-targeting BiTE molecule, were presented at the 55th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) in Chicago. Data presented included updated investigational AMG 420 safety and efficacy results in patients with relapsed and/or refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM). BiTE technology is a targeted immuno-oncology platform that is designed to engage…

ASCO 2019 – Isatuximab plus pomalidomide and dexamethasone showed 40% reduction in the risk of disease progression for relapsed myeloma patients

  ASCO 2019, CHICAGO – Pivotal Phase 3 ICARIA-MM trial results demonstrated that isatuximab added to pomalidomide and dexamethasone (isatuximab combination therapy) showed statistically significant improvements compared to pomalidomide and dexamethasone (pom-dex) alone in patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM).

ASCO 2019 – Study shows that private insurance or higher regional incomes predict longer survival for myeloma patients

  ASCO 2019, CHICAGO – A new study presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting analysed demographic statistics from the National Cancer Database and identified multiple socio-economic factors, including private insurance, living in a regionally higher-income area and receiving treatment in certain practice settings as being associated with longer survival for mueloma patients. Furthermore, researchers found that neither race (black or white) nor gender had a significant impact on survival.

ASCO 2019 – Lenalidomide reduces risk that smoldering myeloma will progress to myeloma in high risk patients

  The phase II/III E3A06 randomized clinical trial found that lenalidomide (Revlimid) significantly reduces the risk of smoldering multiple myeloma (SMM) — a precancerous condition — from progressing to cancer in patients at moderate or high-risk. Organ damage is typically seen in myeloma, which is a way to differentiate it from SMM. At three years, in 87% (phase II) and 91% (phase III) of people with SMM receiving lenalidomide, the condition did not progress to…

Survey on myeloma patient information needs – UK patients required

  Myeloma Patients Europe (MPE) and Amgen are launching a survey for European myeloma patients to understand their information needs. If you are a myeloma patient living in the UK, who has received at least one prior treatment or are currently on your first treatment, MPE would be very grateful if you would take the time to complete the anonymous survey. The survey will be run in 12 European countries, however, at this stage we…

Lenalidomide and pomalidomide based triplet combination regimens for myeloma patients receives approval from the European Commission

The European Commission has approved two of Celgene’s IMiD ® -based combination regimens: Lenalidomide (Revlimid®) in combination with bortezomib and dexamethasone (RVd) in adult patients with previously untreated multiple myeloma who are not eligible for transplant Pomalidomide (Imnovid®) in combination with bortezomib and dexamethasone (PVd), in adult patients with multiple myeloma, who have received at least one prior treatment regimen including lenalidomide.

Advocacy sessions at EHA Annual Meeting 2019

  The European Hematology Association (EHA) celebrates its Annual Meeting in Amsterdam, from 13 to 16 June. This is the most important congress of haematology in Europe in which latest developments and cutting-edge research in haematological diseases will be discussed. Find more information about the congress here. For the first time, the session covering advocacy topics (both Patient Advocacy Track and EHA Advocacy Sessions) have been merged into the Joint EHA-Patient Symposium on Policy Challenges…