In addition to providing education, information and support to its 46 member-groups across 30 European countries, Myeloma Patients Europe (MPE) advocates for the best possible research and equal access to the most innovative treatment and care. With this aim, MPE has developed a series of Community Advisory Boards (CABs) focused on myeloma.
The pharmaceutical company Takeda announced that the Phase 3 TOURMALINE-AL1 clinical trial in patients with relapsed or refractory AL amyloidosis did not meet the first of two primary endpoints.
Treatment with ixazomib in combination with dexamethasone did not demonstrate a significant improvement in overall hematologic response compared to physician’s choice of standard of care regimens. As a result of this analysis, Takeda has decided to discontinue the trial. Continue reading
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. Continue reading
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 patients’ own T cells to a tumor-specific antigen, activating the cytotoxic potential of T cells. Continue reading
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). Continue reading
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. Continue reading
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 multiple myeloma compared with 66% of people who did not receive the therapy and were just observed for potential progression (phase III). Observation is the current standard of care. The study will be presented this week at 2019 ASCO Annual Meeting in Chicago according to the press release shared by ASCO. Continue reading
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 need responses from UK patients only. Continue reading
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.
MPE held a webinar on CAR-T cell treatment with the aim of providing an overview of CAR-T cell treatment in myeloma and to discuss some of the advantages and challenges the myeloma community faces in bringing this treatment to market. Continue reading