The International Myeloma Foundation - conducting research and
providing education, advocacy, and support for myeloma patients,
families, researchers, and physicians worldwide - today said published
data provides encouraging news for nearly half the patients newly
diagnosed with myeloma, patients who are 65 and older. The results of
a multi-center clinical trial show adding thalidomide to the standard
treatment, melphalan and prednisone, increased average survival to
more than 4 years, a year and a half more than the same treatment
without thalidomide. The study comes from the French Intergroupe
Francophone Myelome, and is published in the current issue of the
medical journal Lancet.
"This is an important milestone for all patients because the data
are included in Pharmion's application to make THALIDOMIDE PHARMION
available for myeloma in Europe," said Susie Novis, president and
co-founder of the IMF. "The International Myeloma Foundation would
like all patients to have the same ready and safe access to
thalidomide as they do in the United States. Thalidomide was approved
in the U.S. for newly diagnosed myeloma in 2006 where it was developed
as THALOMID(R) by the Celgene Corporation along with the
industry-leading S.T.E.P.S. risk management program to ensure that all
patients have safe access to is clinical benefits."
The study involved patients between 65 and 75 years old who are
not eligible for intense bone marrow transplants. The study used the
melphalan-prednisone-thalidomide (MPT) regimen as the first treatment
in patients who were newly diagnosed.
"Thalidomide is the first of what are called the novel therapies
that, along with VELCADE(R) and REVLIMID(R), are dramatically changing
the outlook for patients with multiple myeloma," said Brian G.M.
Durie, M.D. chairman and co-founder of the IMF. "Having multiple drugs
available for use in combination and in sequence is extending lives
far longer than was possible just a few years ago, and these data,
demonstrating an average four year survival from just this one
regimen, are especially encouraging for elderly patients with fewer
options."
The data verify preliminary findings that first raised excitement
at the international ASCO conference last year. They also dovetail
with study results in the US where thalidomide is used with the
steroid dexamethasone, demonstrating increased survival and a longer
time before the myeloma progresses.
Thalidomide was first tested in multiple myeloma in 1997. Within a
year thalidomide became recognized as the most promising new agent for
multiple myeloma at the time, and it remains an essential part of both
the treatment regimen and research into the underlying mechanisms of
blood and related cancers.
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 100 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 can be reached at (800) 452-CURE. The global Website is
www.myeloma.org with a companion Website in Spanish at
www.myelomala.org.
