The Myeloma Beacon™
Independent, up-to-date news and information for multiple myeloma patients and their families.
Here is the latest news related to multiple myeloma.
Natco Pharma Applies To Sell Generic Lenalidomide In The U.S. – The Indian drug company Natco Pharma filed a request with the Food and Drug Administration to market generic lenalidomide before Celgene’s patents on Revlimid (lenalidomide) expire in 2026. Revlimid is approved in the U.S. for the treatment of multiple myeloma as well as a collection of blood disorders called myelodysplastic syndromes. Investment analysts have speculated that the patent that extends Revlimid’s exclusivity from 2019 to 2026 is being challenged. Despite this application, the sale of generic lenalidomide is not likely for at least several years. Celgene plans to sue Natco for patent infringement, which would automatically result in a 30-month delay of Natco’s application to sell generic lenalidomide in order to settle the lawsuit. For more information, see the Dow Jones article.
Clinical Insights Education Program – The Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF) is sponsoring an education program about multiple myeloma clinical insights. The event will be held on September 8 in St. Louis. Myeloma experts Drs. Ravi Vij, Todd Zimmerman, Keith Stockerl-Goldstein, Shaji Kumar, and David Vesole will speak about the latest advances in frontline therapy, stem cell transplants, relapsed and refractory myeloma, supportive care, and clinical trials. There will also be a question and answer session. Registration will begin at 10 a.m., and the program will conclude at 3 p.m. A similar program will be held in Houston on October 15. For more information about the St. Louis program or to register, please see the MMRF website.
For a more detailed listing of myeloma-related events, please check the Myeloma Beacon Events Calendar.
In this week’s column I would like to share some of my observations and thoughts about where I think the treatment of multiple myeloma is heading.
First, the good news: More drugs are being developed now for myeloma than for any other cancer. And, for the most part, they are working! These drugs—pomalidomide (Actimid), carfilzomib, perifosine, Zolinza (vorinostat), etc.—most often work best when combined with other approved novel therapy agents thalidomide (Thalomid), Revlimid (lenalidomide), and/or Velcade (bortezomib).
Maintenance therapy after a stem cell…
This article is the second in a two-part series about nutrition for multiple myeloma patients. The first article provides an introduction to nutrition for cancer patients as well as tips for getting the right nutrition. The second article describes sources and amounts of nutrients that are important for myeloma patients.
Taking nutritional supplements is common among multiple myeloma patients and other cancer patients. These supplements, including vitamins, minerals, and various plant compounds, may be important to keep the body healthy, aid in the treatment of myeloma, or to reduce negative…
In a recent study, Spanish researchers found that oral busulfan increased progression-free survival following stem cell transplant in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients compared to melphalan. However, there was no difference in overall survival between the two treatments. Furthermore, oral busulfan treatment was associated with an increased risk of death due to the drug’s side effects.
The current standard of care for multiple myeloma patients under the age of 65 is treatment with high dose chemotherapy followed by stem cell transplant. High dose chemotherapy prior to stem cell transplant, often…
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, an organization that decides which treatments will be made available under the state-funded National Health Service in the United Kingdom, recommended thalidomide as a first line of treatment for multiple myeloma patients in a draft guidance published August 26. Velcade was also recommended as a first line of treatment, but only for patients unable to tolerate thalidomide.
This draft guidance follows a previous draft published by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) on June 2, which recommended both