Inês Martins, PhD, managing science editor —

Patients with bone metastasis due to multiple myeloma, breast or prostate cancer, who received zoledronic acid every 12 weeks for two years, did not have increased risk of skeletal-related events compared to patients who received the drug every four weeks, researchers have found. The study, “Effect of Longer-Interval vs Standard Dosing of…

The Kerry and Simone Vickar Family Foundation has committed $2 million to establish an endowed chair in their name at the Levine Cancer Institute, to support academic and clinical research in hematologic oncology and blood disorders, like myeloma. Chaired positions are usually endowed, meaning that funding for the…

Changes in gene activity in the DNA of multiple myeloma cells can lead to the progression of the disease by shutting down the expression of tumor-suppressor microRNAs, according to a study. The research suggested that inhibiting the enzyme responsible for the DNA modifications may be a promising approach to treating…

Janssen Biotech and Bristol-Myers Squibb will collaborate in a clinical trial program to evaluate the combination of Darzalex (daratumumab) and Opdivo (nivolumab) in multiple myeloma patients and in several solid tumors in Phase 1b and Phase 2 trials. Darzalex and Opdivo are two immunotherapy agents that are meant to boost…

Adding the proteasome inhibitor Velcade (bortezomib) to the standard therapy of Revlimid (lenalidomide) and dexamethasone — a triple combo therapy — significantly extends progression-free survival and overall survival of multiple myeloma patients, according to the results of a recent Phase 3 trial. The study, titled “Bortezomib with lenalidomide and dexamethasone…

The monoclonal antibody Darxalex (daratumumab) was recently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), in combination with either Revlimid (lenalidomide) and dexamethasone, or Velcade (bortezomib) and dexamethasone, as a treatment for multiple myeloma patients who have received at least one prior therapy. Now, Diplomat Pharmacy, whose website identifies…

Aduro Biotech recently presented positive preclinical data showing that its monoclonal antibody, BION-1301, may successfully inhibit multiple myeloma tumor growth, survival, and resistance to other chemotherapy agents. The data, presented at the 58th American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting Dec. 3-6 in San Diego, showed that BION-1301 can effectively inhibit APRIL…

The results of a new clinical trial suggest that two extension treatments that are frequently added to standard therapy care in patients with multiple myeloma do not improve patients’ progression-free survival compared to the current standard practice alone. The results were presented at the 58th American Society of Hematology…

Patients with advanced multiple myeloma may benefit from bluebird bio’s novel CAR T-cell therapy bb2121, according to data presented at the 28th EORTC-NCI-AACR Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics Symposium in Munich, Germany. The study, “Clinical remissions and limited toxicity in a first-in-human multicenter study of bb2121, a novel anti-BCMA…

The European Commission has granted conditional marketing authorization to Ninlaro (ixazomib) capsules in combination with Revlimid (lenalidomide) and Decadron (dexamethasone) for multiple myeloma patients who have received at least one prior therapy. Ninlaro’s approval was based on results from the TOURNALINE-MM1 Ohase 3 trial and follows a positive opinion issued by…