The Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation and Onyx Pharmaceuticals – Dedicated to better treatments for Multiple Myeloma

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We’ve been partners of the MMRF for nearly half a year now, and I only grow more impressed with them and their indomitable commitment to finding better and better treatments for Multiple Myeloma. Onyx Pharmaceuticals recently announced their partnership with the MMRF in launching an expanded access program to carfilzomib. This program will make carfilzomib available to patients for whom no other treatments exist for. Carfilzomib is a proteosome inhibitor which is what Velcade is. These drugs essentially disrupt the garbage and recycling systems in side of the cells. It is unknown why these drugs are so targeted to Myeloma cells but they are and seem to work quite well.

Kathi Giusti, founder and CEO of the MMRF had this to say about the program:

“New approaches to treating multiple myeloma are needed since nearly all patients will eventually relapse and no longer respond to currently available therapies. The MMRF has established the clinical platform necessary for this innovative program to support multiple myeloma patients and their healthcare providers at a critical point in their care. Through this collaboration, the MMRF and Onyx have developed the first expanded access program for patients with advanced multiple myeloma in nearly six years. By making carfilzomib available through The Carfilzomib Myeloma Access Program (C-MAP), we believe we are addressing a critical need in the treatment of patients with relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma.”^[1]

And here is a quote from N. Anthony Coles, M.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Onyx Pharmaceuticals,

“In recognition of the immediate needs of patients with relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma who have limited treatment options available to them, Onyx and the MMRF are offering this expanded access program with the hope of potentially helping patients who may benefit from carfilzomib prior to FDA approval in the U.S. Onyx plans to submit a New Drug Application (NDA) for accelerated approval of carfilzomib with the goal of making this promising new therapy commercially available as quickly as possible.” ^[1]

This C-MAP program will be launched in 40 medical centers across the US. It consists of a single arm study and will be avaliable for patients who have progressive disease, have had at least 4 prior therapies for MM and are not eligible for another carfilzomib trial in the US.

Interested patients should ask their physician to call Onyx Medical Information at 1-877-ONYX-1-2-1 (1-877-669-9121) or visit www.onyxtrials.com to learn if they are eligible for the trial.

For people interested in multiple myeloma clinical trials, head on over to the MMRF’s clinical trial search page, powered by TrialX!