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
European Myeloma Platform
CONTACT: Dr. Rolf Pelzing, +49-2151-305170, rolf.pelzing@t-online.de, forEuropean Myeloma Platform
