The International Myeloma Foundation Says REVLIMID(R) Meets Important Quality of Life Measures

The International Myeloma Foundation (IMF) - supporting research
and providing education, advocacy and support for myeloma patients

families, researchers and physicians - today said that a study reported at the British
Society for Haematology Annual Meeting demonstrates that REVLIMID(R)
has the ability to add years to myeloma patients´ lives, and that
these years fall within the quality-adjusted life years, or QALY
guidelines. QALY is a measurement of cost-effectiveness of a drug
based on quality of life achieved, not just the number of years.

Specifically, the study showed the standard REVLIMID plus high
dose dexamethasone added at least three years of life compared to
dexamethasone alone. Reviewers found the data so impressive that the
trial, intended to last ten years, was stopped after just 18 months to
allow all patients in the study to take advantage of the therapy.

"These findings provide more evidence that myeloma is
demonstrating that blood cancers can be managed, allowing patients to
feel good and maintain active, productive lives," said Susie Novis

president and co-founder of the IMF. "REVLIMID does not have the side
effects typically associated with chemotherapy, and along with the
other ´novel therapies,´ VELCADE(R) and THALOMID(R), it is giving
physicians the ability to use new classes of drugs in combinations and
in sequence to extend even the impressive results in this study and
allow patients to achieve long term ´quality´ remissions."

Although once considered a rare disease of the elderly, today
myeloma is being diagnosed in increasing numbers and in increasingly
younger people. Last year a similar study in the United States from a
consortium called the Southwest Oncology Group was also stopped early
because of the impressive results of the REVLIMID-dexamethasone
combination. A study from the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group lead
by the Mayo clinic demonstrated that lowering the dose of the
accompanying dexamethasone could achieve better results and further
improve the quality of life for patients.

Myeloma, also called multiple myeloma, is a cancer of the bone
marrow that affects production of red cells, white cells and stem
cells. It affects an estimated 750,000 people worldwide.

ABOUT THE INTERNATIONAL MYELOMA FOUNDATION

The International Myeloma Foundation is the oldest and largest
myeloma organization, reaching more than 165,000 members in 113
countries worldwide. A 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization dedicated to
improving the quality of life of myeloma patients and their families

the IMF focuses in four key areas: research, education, support and
advocacy. To date, the IMF has conducted more than 120 educational
seminars worldwide, maintains a world-renowned hotline, and operates
Bank on a Cure(R), a unique gene bank to advance myeloma research. The
IMF was rated as the number one resource for patients in an
independent survey by the Target Research Group. The IMF can be
reached at (800) 452-CURE, or out of the United States at (818)
487-7455. More information is available at www.myeloma.org.