THE INTERNATIONAL MYELOMA FOUNDATION: MULTIPLE
STUDIES AT GLOBAL CANCER CONFERENCE SHOW NEW
THERAPIES CHANGING THE OUTLOOK FOR PATIENTS WITH
BLOOD CANCERS
-- Studies Presented at the 2006 Annual Meeting of the American Society of
Hematology (ASH) --
Orlando, FL and North Hollywood, CA, December 8, 2006 ­ The International
Myeloma Foundation (IMF) ­ conducting research and providing education, advocacy
and support for myeloma patients, families, researchers and physicians ­ today noted
that multiple studies presented at the 2006 Annual Meeting of the American Society of
Hematology (ASH) illustrate the breadth of the gains being made in the treatment of
multiple myeloma and related blood cancers. The findings show that new treatment
regimens that began with THALOMIDŽ and extend to both VELCADEŽ and the newest
oral treatment REVLIMIDŽ are helping a growing range of myeloma patients when used
alone, sequentially and in various combinations. Collectively, these studies represent a
significant increase in knowledge of how myeloma responds to treatment, which is
already becoming applicable to other cancers.
The patient groups studied cover the full range, from relapsed patients to the newly
diagnosed, young to old, and include patients with an otherwise poor prognosis due to
chromosomal abnormalities. In some cases the data being presented at the conference
significantly advances previous studies to show long-term response in newly diagnosed
patients. In one of the most significant studies, researchers from the Mayo Clinic report
67% of patients using REVLIMID (plus the steroid dexamethasone) as primary therapy,
achieved a response categorized as complete or very good, with a low rate of disease
progression continuing even after two years.
"The many studies being presented at ASH not only confirm the good news we have
been experiencing firsthand in our work with myeloma patients, but show that working
with new classes of drugs is actually teaching us about treating cancer," said Brian G. M.
Durie, M.D., myeloma specialist and chairman and co-founder of the International
Myeloma Foundation. "We are learning to attack not just the cancer cell, but the
environment in which it lives. We know that drugs like REVLIMID, for example, have
multiple mechanisms of action, blocking the growth of tumor blood vessels, sensitizing
the cancer cells to natural killer cells and suppressing TNF-alpha, a growth factor
associated with inflammation. Understanding these mechanisms of action helps us
increase the efficacy of our treatments, decrease their side effects, and apply them to a
growing range of cancers including MDS, non-Hodgkins lymphoma and chronic
lymphocytic leukemia."
In addition to the previously mentioned study from Mayo clinic, other key studies show
that REVLIMID and VELCADE can be used together effectively even in patients who
have already failed therapy on each drug alone. Studies cover long-term experience
using each of THALOMID, REVLIMID and VELCADE in newly diagnosed patients, and
possibly using them in various combinations as part of powerful new cocktail treatments.
Also, studies from the IMF myeloma DNA-bank, Bank On A CureŽ, look at the origins of
INTERNATIONAL MYELOMA FOUNDATION, global headquarters
12650 Riverside Drive, Suite 206, North Hollywood, CA. USA 91607
side effects in some patients, while other groups use genetic profiling to better
understand drug resistance.
"Blood cancers, including myeloma, are the third most common form of cancer, and
today novel therapies are transforming the way we treat them," said Susie Novis,
president and co-founder of the International Myeloma Foundation. "Studies presented
at this meeting confirm our own experience as the premier organization dedicated to
myeloma patient advocacy and support - while most cancer treatment benefits are
measured in months, we are seeing many of our patients experience long-term
responses measured in years and achieved without the ravages of chemotherapy. As a
result, a growing number of myeloma patients are now able to live active, productive
lives."
Myeloma, also called multiple myeloma, is a cancer of the bone marrow that affects
production of red cells, white cells and stem cells. It is the second largest of the blood
cancers affecting an estimated 750,000 people worldwide; in industrialized countries it is
growing in number and affecting increasingly younger people.
Dr. Durie continued: "The wide range of presentations at ASH should enable us and our
partners to continue to improve the outlook for our patients. This is perhaps the most
encouraging meeting of ASH in the many years that I have been working in the myeloma
field."
ABOUT THE INTERNATIONAL MYELOMA FOUNDATION
The International Myeloma Foundation is the oldest and largest myeloma organization,
reaching more than 125,000 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 CureŽ, a unique gene
bank to advance myeloma research. The IMF can be reached at (800) 452-CURE or
www.myeloma.org, and in Spanish at www.myelomala.org
CONTACTS:
International Myeloma Foundation
800-452-2873 (US and Canada)
818-487-7455 (elsewhere)
Media: GendeLLindheim BioCom Partners
Stephen Gendel +1-212-918-4650
INTERNATIONAL MYELOMA FOUNDATION, global headquarters
12650 Riverside Drive, Suite 206, North Hollywood, CA. USA 91607