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

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The Multiple Myeloma Research Consortium (MMRC) 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