The International
Myeloma Foundation (IMF) -- supporting research and providing education,
advocacy and support for myeloma patients, families, researchers and
physicians -- today said the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved
a new treatment option for myeloma patients who have relapsed or who have
not responded to at least one other course of treatments. The combination
of Doxil(R) with Velcade(R) provides nearly a three month improvement in
time to disease progression as compared to Velcade alone, which is a 43%
improvement in response according to a phase III multi-national clinical
trial.
"This is an important new combination for patients, especially those
with resistant myeloma, because of the Velcade/Doxil synergy -- Velcade
increases the sensitivity of cancer cells to Doxil and Doxil does the same
for Velcade," said Brian G.M. Durie, M.D., chairman and co-founder of the
IMF. "The growing success treating myeloma and extending patients' lives is
due in large part to new drugs that can be used in combination and in
sequence, and the approval of the new Velcade/Doxil combination fits
perfectly into that strategy."
Doxil is a specially (liposomal) formulated version of the chemotherapy
agent doxorubicin, and is approved for use in other forms of cancer.
Velcade, bortezomib, is approved for myeloma patients who have relapsed or
not responded to a previous course of treatment. The Velcade/Doxil may be
used with or without steroids providing patients with a steroid-free
alternative.
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, and in industrialized
countries it is being diagnosed in growing numbers and in increasingly
younger people.
About The International Myeloma Foundation
The International Myeloma Foundation is the oldest and largest myeloma
organization, reaching more than 135,000 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 on
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.
International Myeloma Foundation
myeloma
View drug information on Doxil; Velcade.