Multiple Myeloma Research Consortium (MMRC) Opens Record-Breaking Number of Trials in 2011 to Advance Multiple Myeloma Tre

- Trials Include Cutting-Edge Combination Study of Two Investigational Therapies -

NORWALK, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The Multiple Myeloma Research Consortium (MMRC) today announced that it opened more multiple myeloma clinical trials at its member institutions during 2011 than any other year since the Consortium was founded in 2004. This highly successful year is the culmination of joint efforts by the MMRC, its members and its pharmaceutical and biotech partners to rapidly advance treatment options for patients with multiple myeloma, an incurable blood cancer.

The record-breaking number of trials includes eight innovative Phase 1 or Phase 2 trials studying investigational treatments and treatment regimens in patients with newly diagnosed, relapsed and/or refractory multiple myeloma, representing a broad range of options for patients. Among these, two of the trials opened and rapidly completed patient enrollment, while the other trials remain open with opportunities for patients to enroll.

The most recent trial opened is a cutting-edge MMRC investigator-led Phase 1 study testing the combination of two investigational treatments utilizing MMRC’s Investigator Sponsored Trial platform: panobinostat (Novartis) and carfilzomib (Onyx Pharmaceuticals). This study in relapsed/refractory patients builds on previous MMRC trials involving each of these drug candidates. Co-development of investigational therapies is becoming an important focus in oncology clinical trials to identify and accelerate promising complementary treatment approaches to fatal diseases. As an independent entity, the MMRC can play an important role in fostering this kind of collaboration between development companies.

“We would like to extend our gratitude to the MMRC member institutions for their tremendous efforts in opening so many critical trials throughout the year, which is helping us meet the strong demand for new treatment options for multiple myeloma patients. We are extremely proud of the progress we made this year, especially supporting the partnership between two drug companies and lead academic center that enabled two investigational treatments to be studied in one clinical trial,” stated Kathy Giusti, Founder and CEO of the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF) and MMRC.

In addition to the record-breaking opening of trials this year, the MMRC also recently announced dramatic improvements in clinical trial startup, accrual and completion for studies run through its Consortium in an oral presentation at the American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting.

MMRC Clinical Trials Opened During 2011:

  • Multicenter, Open-label, Single-arm, Phase 2 Study of the Safety and Efficacy of Combination Treatment with Carfilzomib, Lenalidomide (Revlimid®) and Dexamethasone (CRD) in Subjects with Newly Diagnosed, Previously Untreated Multiple Myeloma Requiring Systemic Chemotherapy
  • A Phase 2, Multicenter, Open-label, Dose-escalation Study of Bendamustine in Combination with Lenalidomide and Dexamethasone in Patients with Relapsed Multiple Myeloma
  • An Open Label, Dose Escalation Phase 1 , Multicenter Study of AT7519 in Combination with Bortezomib in Patients with Pre-treated Multiple Myeloma
  • A Phase 1 Study of the Combination of Panobinostat and Carfilzomib for Patients with Relapsed and Refractory Multiple Myeloma
  • A Phase 1 Study of STA-9090 +/- Bortezomib in Patients with Relapsed and/or Refractory Multiple Myeloma
  • An Open Label, Dose Escalation Phase 1 Study of the Oral Formulation of MLNM 9078 Administered in Combination with Revlimid and Dexamethasone in Patients with Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma Requiring Systemic Treatment
  • A Phase 1b Study to Evaluate Safety, Tolerability, Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of the Oral AKT Inhibitor GSK2110183 Administered in Combination with Bortezomib and Dexamethasone in Subjects with Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma
  • A Phase 1 Study of the Combination of Pomalidomide with Bortezomib and Dexamethasone for Patients with Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma

About the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF)

Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF) was established in 1998 as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization by twin sisters Karen Andrews and Kathy Giusti, soon after Kathy's diagnosis with multiple myeloma. The mission of the MMRF is to relentlessly pursue innovative means that accelerate the development of next-generation multiple myeloma treatments to extend the lives of patients and lead to a cure. As the world's number-one private funder of multiple myeloma research, the MMRF has raised over $170 million since its inception to fund nearly 120 laboratories worldwide, including 70 new compounds and approaches in clinical trials and pre-clinical studies and has facilitated more than 30 clinical trials through its affiliate organization, the Multiple Myeloma Research Consortium (MMRC). As exceptional stewards of its donors' investments, the MMRF has been consistently recognized for its sound fiscal management. For more information about the MMRF, please visit www.themmrf.org.

About the Multiple Myeloma Research Consortium

The Multiple Myeloma Research Consortium (MMRC) is a 509(a)3 non-profit organization that integrates leading academic institutions to accelerate drug development in multiple myeloma. It is led from MMRC offices in Norwalk, Conn., and comprises 16 member institutions: Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Baylor Charles A. Sammons Cancer Center at Dallas, City of Hope, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Emory University's Winship Cancer Institute, the John Theurer Cancer Center at Hackensack University Medical Center, Mayo Clinic, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, Ohio State University, Sarah Cannon Research Institute, University Health Network (Princess Margaret Hospital), University of California-San Francisco, University of Chicago, University of Michigan, Virginia Cancer Specialists, and Washington University in St. Louis..

The MMRC was founded in 2004 by Kathy Giusti, a myeloma patient, and with the help of the scientific community. The MMRC is a sister organization to the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF), the world's leading funder of multiple myeloma research. The MMRC is widely recognized as an optimal research model to rapidly address critical challenges in drug development and to explore opportunities in the today's most promising research areas in genomics, compound validation, and clinical trials. The MMRC is the only consortium to join academic institutions through membership agreements, customized IT systems, and an integrated tissue bank. For more information, please visit www.themmrc.org.

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CONTACT:

MMRF
Anne Quinn Young, 203-536-8691
[email protected]
or
Feinstein Kean Healthcare
Cara Amoroso, 845-392-3842
[email protected]

KEYWORDS:   United States  North America  Connecticut

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS:   Stem Cells  Health  Biotechnology  Clinical Trials  Genetics  Research  Science

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