A new test can identify patients with multiple myeloma (MM) who have a high-risk genetic profile as well as multiple chromosomal abnormalities. In this subgroup of patients with ultra-high-risk MM, disease progression is increased, survival is very poor, and it is unlikely that patients will respond to a commonly used maintenance therapy, British researchers report. Read more...Continue Reading
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to put a strain on healthcare delivery around the world. In this environment, haematologists are adapting their approach to treating multiple myeloma to minimise the risk to their patients. Last Thursday, Professor Miles Prince hosted a webcast to explore the issues surrounding management of patients during this challenging time. Joining him...Continue Reading
Recent research has shown that severe cases of COVID-19 show an excessive immune response and a strong cytokine storm, which may include high levels of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GSF) and interleukin-6 (IL-6). Following up on that research, investigators from China reported the first case of COVID-19 in a patient with multiple myeloma (MM) who was...Continue Reading
Topline results show a 26% response rate in a Phase 2 clinical trial evaluating Ygalo (melflufen) in patients with triple-refractory multiple myeloma, a difficult-to-treat form of this disease, the therapy’s developer, Oncopeptides, announced. These data will support a request for accelerated approval for Ygalo to treat people with triple-refractory multiple myeloma in the U.S., the...Continue Reading
Medical centres across the country are condensing services, moving online and ushering in pandemic plans. Josie Adams assesses what it’s like to access and provide essential medical care under alert level four. On Monday, Sandra Russell woke up before dawn and drove to Milford to get her blood tested. She has an incurable blood cancer,...Continue Reading
A case study of a patient in Wuhan, China, suggests that the immunosuppressant tocilizumab may be an effective COVID-19 treatment for very ill patients who also have multiple myeloma and other blood cancers. The report, published in Blood Advances, also suggests that blood cancer patients may have atypical COVID-19 symptoms. The patient, a 60-year-old male who...Continue Reading
Emma Holden was devastated when she learned she had multiple myeloma. The 31-year-old, who lives in South Canterbury, was diagnosed with the form of blood cancer in June last year. When she first was told of the cancer she hadn’t heard of it before. Multiple myeloma causes cancer cells to accumulate in bone marrow, where they...Continue Reading
The Patient Voice Aotearoa team, with support from 35 patient advocacy groups, today published a full page ad in the Herald calling on the Prime Minister and her government to urgently fund medicines to save the lives of our most vulnerable, defenceless citizens during Covid-19. Myeloma New Zealand are proud to support the open letter, and...Continue Reading
Pharmac will ease restrictions on at least nine cancer drugs, including keytruda for the treatment of advanced melanoma, to reduce hospital visits and cut the risk of highly vulnerable patients catching Covid-19. One senior oncologist has praised the drug buying agency’s swift response, although patient advocates say cancer sufferers will need much more help during...Continue Reading
New Zealanders living with the incurable blood cancer, multiple myeloma, are set to gain access to a new treatment option following the decision by PHARMAC to subsidise REVLIMID® (lenalidomide) for maintenance treatment from Wednesday April 1, 2020 REVLIMID® (lenalidomide) represents New Zealand’s first and only maintenance treatment specifically indicated and reimbursed for those with newly...Continue Reading
