Pomalidomide (Pomalyst) in combination with bortezomib and dexamethasone (PVd) will be reimbursed on the PBS from 1 October for patients with relapsed or refractory  multiple myeloma who have received at least one prior treatment regimen including lenalidomide. According to distributor Bristol Myers Squibb, the thalidomide analogue was approved based on findings from the OPTIMISMM trial...Continue Reading

People with blood cancers who are immunocompromised are now advised to have a third primary dose of COVID-19 vaccine with an mRNA vaccine. On 8 October the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) recommended a booster third dose of vaccine as part of the primary course in individuals who are severely immunocompromised to address the risk...Continue Reading

This article was originally posted on Stuff Around 21,000 Kiwis are living with blood cancer. Symptoms can be difficult to recognise, and experts worry that some people aren’t getting diagnosed as our health system tackles the impact of Covid-19. Hayley McLarin investigates. Neil Brownlie has beaten blood cancer three times in a decade. The former...Continue Reading

Welcome to issue 39 of Multiple Myeloma Research Review. This issue’s selection includes research reporting that switching elderly intermediate-fit patients with MM to reduced-dose lenalidomide maintenance without dexamethasone after nine cycles of Rd was both feasible and provided outcomes similar to those associated with continuing Rd. As usual we have attached the PDF, and now...Continue Reading

Dear AllWe are now certainly in the grip of a cold winter with many parts of the country experiencing significant snow conditions. I imagine that most of you will have had at least your first vaccination by now. There is some data that shows that myeloma patients are having sub optimal responses to the Pfizer...Continue Reading

CANCELLED – date to be reviewed in 2022 At this stage the Myeloma National Patient Seminar due to be held on Saturday 13th November 2021 at the Intercontinental Wellington, 2 Grey Street, Wellington, has been cancelled with a plan to review new dates in 2022. Subscribe to our newsletter for emailed updates.Continue Reading

This article was originally published on The Limbic Patients with blood cancer – including leukaemia, myeloma, and lymphoma – experience higher psychological distress from risk of COVID-19 infection and unmet needs, finds new research Over a year into the pandemic, we have all felt the effects at this point. But the disruptions and stress haven’t...Continue Reading

Patients with blood cancer – including leukaemia, myeloma, and lymphoma – experience higher psychological distress from risk of COVID-19 infection and unmet needs, finds new research Over a year into the pandemic, we have all felt the effects at this point. But the disruptions and stress haven’t been spread evenly across the population and the...Continue Reading

This article was originally posted on The Limbic Addition of isatuximab to carfilzomib–dexamethasone has been hailed “a new standard of care” for patients with relapsed multiple myeloma. The anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody is already approved in combination with pomalidomide and dexamethasone in many countries for relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma. The phase 3 IKEMA trial comparing...Continue Reading

Smoldering multiple myeloma (SMM) is an asymptomatic precursor state of multiple myeloma (MM). Recently, MM was redefined to include biomarkers predicting a high risk of progression from SMM, thus necessitating a redefinition of SMM and its risk stratification. We assembled a large cohort of SMM patients meeting the revised IMWG criteria to develop a new...Continue Reading