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The European Myeloma Platform Reports New Survival data for REVLIMID Presented at the International Myeloma Workshop in Greece
BRUSSELS, Belgium and KOS, Greece, June 29 /PRNewswire/ --
The European Myeloma Platform (EMP) says updated data for previously
treated patients on REVLIMID (lenalidomide) plus the steroid dexamethasone
shows median survival of 35 months, nearly three years. The data are pooled
from two large randomized controlled Phase III trials that enrolled more than
700 patients from nearly 100 clinical sites worldwide. These updated results
were presented at the 11th International Myeloma Workshop in Kos, Greece.
"Here in Kos we are seeing what is truly a paradigm shift in treatment
for multiple myeloma patients," said Greetje Goossens, EMP member and leader
of the Belgium myeloma support group. "The experts here are saying that
nearly three years of median over all survival for REVLIMID patients is the
longest they have seen in myeloma to-date from large clinical trials."
This is the first major medical meeting since REVLIMID, an oral
breakthrough therapy, was approved in Europe earlier this month for multiple
myeloma patients. It has been approved for the past year in the United
States. Previously it was reported that for newly diagnosed patients in a
large randomized Phase III trial, REVLIMID with low dose dexamethasone
demonstrated an unprecedented 98% one year survival in patients under 65 and
95% one year survival in patients 65 and over. Investigators characterized
this as the best one-year survival data they have seen in a large phase 3
study in myeloma.
"We are very excited about these data," said Dr. Rolf Pelzing of Germany,
Vice-Chairperson, EMP. "There is no cure for myeloma, but from personal
experience, I can say that the duration of survival and the quality of life
is improving significantly for many of us as demonstrated by the powerful new
data that were presented at the meeting in Kos."
Multiple myeloma is a rare form of cancer of plasma cells. It is the
second most common cancer of the blood, affecting over 80,000 people in
Europe and an estimated 750,000 worldwide at any one time. EMP is a European
umbrella organization of myeloma patient support groups. EMP has been working
to help make REVLIMID available throughout Europe, and members of the
organization continue to work with local regulatory agencies to help secure
local reimbursement approvals.
For more information, contact:
Dr. Rolf Pelzing
+49-2151-305170
rolf.pelzing@t-online.de
