EMPOWERING MYELOMA ADVOCACY ACROSS EUROPE 
EMPOWERING MYELOMA ADVOCACY ACROSS EUROPE
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…
An Australian study published in the journal Supportive Care in Cancer has revealed that levels of physical activity decline after patients are diagnosed with myeloma. The research surveyed 229 myeloma patients and found that participation in physical activity declined significantly from pre-diagnosis levels. Fatigue, injuries and pain were identified as the strongest perceived barriers to taking part. However, 41% of patients were willing to try an exercise programme if one was offered to them.
The 54th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Haematology (ASH) took place on the 8 – 12 December inAtlanta,USA. This year, some 200 talks and over 500 posters dedicated to myeloma research were presented. Here, we summarise some of the highlights emerging from the conference:
The latest results from an international Phase III clinical study, show that pomalidomide with low-dose dexamethasone improves the length of remission and extends overall survival in relapsed and refractory myeloma patients. Pomalidomide, an immunomodulatory drug (IMiD) similar to Revlimid® and derived from thalidomide, is being developed by the pharmaceutical company Celgene as a potential treatment in myeloma.
MPE has welcomed the news today that the European Commission has approved a marketing licence for Velcade to be used as a subcutaneous (under the skin) injection for myeloma patients. Velcade was the first in a class of anti-cancer drugs called proteasome inhibitors to be used in myeloma. It was first licensed in Europe in an IV formulation and since then Velcade has had a significant impact on the treatment of myeloma.
