Monday, January 19, 2009

MMRC begins two-drug multiple myeloma treatment trials

By Mass High Tech staff

Norwalk, Conn.-based Multiple Myeloma Research Consortium has announced the start of a new Phase 2 clinical trial of Zolinza, used in combination with Velcade, to treat multiple myeloma, a cancer of the plasma cells.

Zolinza is Merck & Co.’s treatment for cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL), when used on its own. When used with Millennium Pharmaceuticals Inc.’s Velcade, a proteasome inhibitor, Zolinza may apply to relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma patients. The trials are intended for people who have not successfully reacted to other treatments, including Revlimid or Thalomid.

About 60 clinical trials will enroll 142 patients in the trials. The MMRC has 15 member institutions throughout the country. Among the MMRC member institutions participating in the trial are City of Hope, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Emory University’s Winship Cancer Institute, Hackensack University Medical Center, St. Vincent’s Comprehensive Cancer Center of Saint Vincent Catholic Medical Centers of New York and University Health Network.

Founded in 2004, the MMRC announced in August that it had begun testing a four-drug treatment combination of multiple myeloma, combining Revlimid, Velcade for injection, Doxil and dexamethasone.