News
As part of Myeloma Patients Europe’s (MPE) ongoing work to ensure that the patient voice is fully represented, and to strengthen organizations’ and individuals’ ability to advocate effectively, in 2017 MPE created the Advocate Development Program (ADP). The ADP is a 12-month training programme designed to develop participants’ advocacy knowledge and skills to better serve patients locally, nationally, and across Europe. Through the course, participants improve their understanding of clinical research and development, mechanisms of accessing diagnostics and drugs, interaction with stakeholders including clinicians and industry, and the basics of evidence-based advocacy. Continue reading
This year, the European Cancer Summit 2020 (ECCO) will take place on November 18 – 19 as a virtual congress. To help support our members in their ongoing education and advocacy, MPE will be sponsoring one representative from each member organisation to attend ECCO as a patient advocate. Continue reading
The pharmaceutical company Oncopeptides has announced that the first patient has been enrolled in the OP-201 study. This is an open-label, phase 1/2 study to evaluate melflufen and dexamethasone in AL amyloidosis patients, following at least one prior line of therapy. This is the first study to explore the effect of melflufen outside of myeloma. Continue reading
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved belantamab mafodotin (BLENREP) as a monotherapy treatment for adult patients with relapsed or refractory myeloma who have received at least four prior therapies including an anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody, a proteasome inhibitor and an immunomodulatory agent. This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on response rate. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in confirmatory trials. This drug is the first anti-BCMA (B-cell maturation antigen) therapy approved anywhere in the world. Continue reading
The Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) adopted a positive opinion recommending the approval of belantamab mafodotin as monotherapy for the treatment of myeloma in adult patients, who have received at least four prior therapies and whose disease is refractory to at least one proteasome inhibitor, one immunomodulatory agent, and an anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody, and who have demonstrated disease progression on the last therapy. Continue reading
The Healthcare Alliance for Resourceful Medicines Offensive against Neoplasms in Haematology (HARMONY) is working to define a set of treatment outcomes (COS) by using a multi-round survey (known as a Delphi survey) to reach consensus amongst patients and other stakeholder groups. Continue reading
The American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting (ASCO2020) is the largest and one of the most important congresses for the oncology community. Many myeloma and AL amyloidosis updates were presented at this congress which was held from 29 to 31 May 2020. Two weeks later, the 25th edition of the European Hematology Association’s annual congress (EHA25 Virtual), one of the most important haematology congresses here in Europe, was held from 11 June to 21 June 2020.
Myeloma Patients Europe (MPE) attended both ASCO2020 and EHA25 Virtual and interviewed relevant myeloma and AL amyloidosis specialists in different languages to provide an overview of the key highlights in both diseases presented during these meetings. Continue reading
As part of the work that Myeloma Patients Europe (MPE) is doing to provide members with support during the COVID-19 pandemic, MPE is extending the MPE Scholarship and Capacity Building Programme. Through this extension, MPE will be offering up to 10 scholarships between 2.500 and 5.000€ to develop or adapt programmes or activities related to or affected by COVID-19 or to support the organisation’s capacity, sustainability or resilience in relation to the impact of COVID-19. Continue reading
Data of new combinations not only in relapsed and refractory myeloma but also in upfront settings were presented in the European Hematology Association (EHA) Annual congress, held virtually from 11 June to 21 June 2020.
Myeloma Patients Europe (MPE) has interviewed Dr Maria-Victoria Mateos, Director of the Myeloma Unit at University Hospital of Salamanca-IBSAL, in Spain, to summarise the most important updates presented at this meeting for the treatment of myeloma patients. Continue reading
Although currently there are not approved drugs for the treatment of AL amyloidosis, important data were presented in the European Hematology Association (EHA) Annual congress, held virtually from 11 June to 21 June 2020.
Myeloma Patients Europe (MPE) has interviewed Dr Moshe Gatt, Hadassah Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem (Israel), and one of the authors of the ANDROMEDA study, to summarise the most important updates presented at this meeting for the treatment of the AL amyloidosis patients. Continue reading