Treatment for advanced myeloma launched
Patients with advanced multiple myeloma may now benefit from a new treatment available in the UK.
Bortezomib (Velcade) is a proteasome inhibitor licensed for use in patients
whose disease is progressing after receiving two other therapies. Ortho-Biotech,
the company launching the drug in the UK, says that in a phase II study
of 202 patients, 59 per cent of those treated with the drug saw a stabilisation
of their disease, or better, and 10 per cent had a complete remission.
Bortezomib is administered as an intravenous injection twice weekly for
two weeks, followed by a 10-day rest period. Patients with a confirmed
complete response should then receive two additional cycles of bortezomib.
It is also recommended that patients who respond to the drug but who
do not achieve a complete remission receive a total of eight cycles.
The company says that with appropriate monitoring and, if necessary,
dose modification, bortezomib has a generally predictable and manageable
safety profile.
Velcade is being co-developed by Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Ortho-Biotech
and Johnson & Johnson, which plan to investigate the potential use
of bortezomib for the treatment of a variety of solid and haematological
cancers.
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