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Eighth Canadian Province Approves Revlimid Funding – Revlimid (lenalidomide) in combination with dexamethasone (Decadron) is now funded and accessible in Manitoba, Canada for multiple myeloma patients who have been previously treated. Only two provinces, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, deny access to myeloma patients who do not have private insurance. Myeloma Canada, an organization dedicated to supporting myeloma patients, will continue campaigning for universal coverage of Revlimid. For more information, please see the Myeloma Canada press release.

Astex And MMRC Begin Phase 2 Study Of AT7519 For Myeloma – Astex Therapeutics has launched a Phase 2 clinical trial, funded by the Multiple Myeloma Research Consortium (MMRC), of AT7519 for relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma patients. AT7519 is a cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor that prevents the growth and spread of myeloma cells by interfering with cell division. Previous trials have shown it has significant anti-tumor effect. AT7519 will be tested alone and in combination with Velcade (bortezomib). For more information, see the MMRC press release.

IMF Will Hold Myeloma Patient And Family Seminar – The International Myeloma Foundation (IMF) will hold an educational program for multiple myeloma patients and their families on August 27 and August 28 in Universal City, CA. Doctors in the myeloma field will answer questions and cover topics such as managing side effects, current standard treatments, and on-going clinical trials. The cost for the seminar is $60 per person. For more information or to register, please see the IMF website.

For a more detailed listing of myeloma-related events, please check the Myeloma Beacon Events Calendar.

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Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center To Field Questions At The Beacon’s Forums This Week – Dr. William Bensinger, myeloma expert at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center in Seattle, WA, will be be responding to medical questions posted in the Myeloma Beacon’s forums this week. Readers who have not yet visited the Beacon’s new myeloma discussion forums are encouraged to do so, as they already contain a number of informative postings about topics such as myeloma treatment options, managing treatment side effects, and alternative myeloma therapies.

Treanda Combination Therapy Enters Phase 1B/2 Trial For Multiple Myeloma – Last week, the Multiple Myeloma Research Consortium (MMRC) announced the start of a Phase 1B/2 clinical trial that will evaluate a combination of Treanda (bendamustine), Revlimid (lenalidomide) and dexamethasone (Decadron) in relapsed multiple myeloma patients. Treanda is already approved in Germany in combination with prednisone for the treatment of multiple myeloma. In the United States, the drug is approved for the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia and certain lymphomas.  For more information, see the MMRC press release or the clinical trial description.

MMRF Kicks Off Race For Research 5K Walk/Run Series – On April 25, the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF) will kick off its annual Race For Research 5K Walk/Run series to raise awareness and funds for multiple myeloma research. The events will take place in eight cities across the Unites States. The first one is scheduled for April 25 in San Francisco. For more information and registration details, see the MMRF Web site.

For a more detailed listing of myeloma-related events, please check the Myeloma Beacon Events Calendar.

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Preliminary results from an ongoing Phase 1 clinical trial indicate that carfilzomib, a new proteasome inhibitor, has significant therapeutic results in patients with relapsed myeloma. The Multiple Myeloma Research Consortium (MMRC) reported the results at the Joint ECCO 15-34th ESMO Multidisciplinary Congress, which was held in Berlin from September 20 to 24.

Carfilzomib selectively induces cell death in cancer cells by blocking the activity of proteasomes, which are enzymes that break down proteins. Carfilzomib is similar to Velcade (bortezomib), the first proteasome inhibitor approved for multiple myeloma treatment.…

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For the first time, researchers have sequenced the full multiple myeloma genome.

Sequencing the full multiple myeloma genome enables scientists to discover which genes are present in a myeloma tumor, as well as to determine which genetic regions may harbor mutations. This knowledge will help researchers better understand both myeloma’s development — how normal plasma cells in the bone marrow transform into cancerous ones – and new, tailored targets for attacking the disease.

This genetic reconstruction project by the Multiple Myeloma Genomics Initiative, which is spearheaded by the Multiple Myeloma…