Over the course of 2011, multiple myeloma patients and caregivers graciously shared their personal experiences with myeloma in columns they wrote for The Beacon.

Some have taken a chronological approach to describing the events leading up to their diagnosis, through their treatment, and to where they are currently.  Others have written about their struggles with side effects, relapsing, and dealing with the disease emotionally.  Some have provided tips based on their own experiences, and others have told their story with…

Celgene announced this morning that it plans to submit an application for the approval of pomalidomide for relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) during the first quarter of 2012.

In addition, the company said that it plans to submit a similar application to the European Medicines Agency (EMA) during the first half of this year.

The updated submission timeline means that pomalidomide could be approved for use in the United States and in Europe…

Earlier this week, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved subcutaneous administration of Velcade (see related Beacon news).  Previously, intravenous administration was the only approved method.

More details are provided in this article to answer multiple myeloma patients’ questions about the FDA decision.

What exactly did the FDA approve?

The FDA approved a supplemental new drug application for Velcade (bortezomib), which is an application to make changes to an already approved product.  Specifically, the FDA approved updated prescribing…

Millennium: The Takeda Oncology Company announced today that the U.S Food and Drug Administration has approved subcutaneous administration of Velcade for the treatment of multiple myeloma and relapsed mantle cell lymphoma.

Velcade (bortezomib), which is marketed by Millennium and its parent company Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited (TSE:4502), is currently approved to be administered intravenously (infused into a vein).

The FDA decision to approve the subcutaneous administration of Velcade (injection into fat just below the skin, often abbreviated as subcu or…

Throughout 2011, The Myeloma Beacon published many articles that serve as helpful resources for multiple myeloma patients and others interested in myeloma.

These articles included interviews with, columns written by, and summaries of treatment guidelines from leading myeloma experts.  They also included articles providing helpful information about rare types of myeloma and exciting new treatment options that are being studied in clinical trials.

All these articles were published in addition to the Beacon’s coverage of the latest myeloma-related news and…