At the upcoming meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH), there will be several presentations about Actimid (pomalidomide). Actimid, a new drug being developed by Celgene Corporation as a treatment for multiple myeloma, is a molecular derivative of thalidomide (Thalomid).

Actimid As A Combination Therapy With Dexamethasone

One of the ASH presentations will show that the combination regimen of Actimid and low-dose dexamethasone (Decadron) is an effective treatment for relapsed multiple myeloma.

Actimid was tested in combination…

Individuals with multiple myeloma are recommended to get both the H1N1 (“swine flu”) vaccine and the seasonal flu vaccine. In particular, most myeloma patients are advised to get the shot version of the H1N1 vaccine.

About The H1N1 Flu

The H1N1 flu, also referred to as “swine flu,” has caused thousands of hospitalizations and more than 600 deaths in the United States since it was first detected in April 2009.

It is spread through person-to-person contact, often by sneezing or…

A recent study of newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients found that Revlimid (lenalidomide) and low-dose dexamethasone (Decadron) resulted in better short-term overall survival and fewer severe side effects than Revlimid and high-dose dexamethasone.  Results were so convincing after one year that the trial was stopped early.

For years, Revlimid plus high-dose dexamethasone has been a standard treatment for multiple myeloma.

“The results of the study have already changed practice worldwide,” said Dr. S. Vincent Rajkumar of the Mayo…

In a recent phase 2 clinical trial published in the journal Leukemia and Lymphoma, ten out of 23 participants with recurring multiple myeloma or other plasma cell cancers reached partial or complete remission on a steroid-free treatment regimen of Velcade (bortezomib), Doxil (doxorubicin liposomal), and thalidomide (Thalomid). The scientists at the State University of New York who performed the trial were looking for a treatment for people who cannot tolerate steroids.

Steroid-based drugs such as dexamethasone…

Patients with multiple myeloma and other blood cancers have a high risk of venous thromboembolism, or blood clotting, according to a recent study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. The rate of this complication is influenced by multiple factors, including the type of disease, the type of chemotherapy, and the use of catheters.

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a condition in which a blood clot forms in a vein, limiting the blood flow in the affected vein. Additionally, a piece…