Data at ASCO demonstrate potential of Velcade for injection across solid and hematological cancers

07-03-2006

Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (MLNM) announced results from additional studies of Velcade in a variety of cancers, including multiple myeloma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma and non-small cell lung cancer at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) 42nd Annual Meeting in Atlanta, Georgia.

Efficacy and safety were reported even in studies of patients with renal impairment.

"The consistently high response rates reported in studies across multiple cancers presented at this meeting emphasize the potential of Velcade to improve outcomes for patients," said Robert Tepper, MD, president, research & development, Millennium. "We will continue to build on the role of Velcade as the backbone of therapy in multiple myeloma while driving our clinical development programs in other indications such as non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and lung cancer."

Highlights of the 42 abstracts on Velcade included oral presentations on multiple myeloma (MM), non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC):

Improved Survival Results in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

- Results showed a median survival of 11 months compared with the historical 9-month survival seen with gemcitabine and carboplatin, a current standard of care. These survival results are among the highest recorded to date in the Southwest Oncology Group (SWOG).

High Complete Response and Near Complete Response Rates Achieved with Velcade Added to Up-Front Multiple Myeloma Therapy Prior to Tandem Transplants

- Results showed that incorporating Velcade into induction therapy prior to tandem transplants as first step of the Total Therapy 3 regimen, a DT-PACE (dexamethasone, thalidomide, cisplatin, Adriamycin, cyclophosphamide, and etoposide) chemotherapy regimen, induced remarkably high complete response plus near complete response rates reaching 80% at 18 months.

High Single-Agent Response Rates in Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma Patients

- Results of a Phase II study showed overall response rates (ORR) of 40% including complete response rates (CR) of 10% with Velcade as a single agent in newly diagnosed patients. These high single-agent response rates underscore why studies of Velcade in combination with other therapies continue to yield some of the highest recorded response rates in the treatment of front-line MM.

Single-Agent Efficacy in Relapsed or Refractory Mantle Cell Lymphoma (MCL)

- Results showed ORR, including CR of 33% with a median duration of response of 9.2 months, and 13.5 months in patients achieving complete response. These data, together with data from other Phase II studies, will provide the basis for the company's submission of a supplemental new drug application shortly.

In these studies Velcade was well tolerated and the side effect profile was consistent with previous studies.

Other data was also presented at ASCO.

This article was prepared by Pain & Central Nervous System Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2006, Pain & Central Nervous System Week via NewsRx.com.