Multiple Myeloma Research Consortium (MMRC) Partners With Novartis To Advance Phase II Study Of Deacetylase Inhibitor

Main Category: Lymphoma / Leukemia / Myeloma
Also Included In: Blood / Hematology;  Clinical Trials / Drug Trials
Article Date: 15 Aug 2007 - 0:00 PDT

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The Multiple Myeloma Research Consortium (MMRC) today announced its participation in a Phase II study to determine the efficacy of LBH589 for the treatment of patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma. LBH589 is an orally administered deacetylase inhibitor developed by Novartis Pharmaceuticals.

The MMRC is the only research model of its kind bringing together 13 leading academic institutions to accelerate the development of novel and combination treatments for multiple myeloma, an incurable cancer of the plasma cell. In addition to its most recent partnership with Novartis, the MMRC is facilitating several other clinical trials, including a Phase I study of NPI- 0052, a proteasome inhibitor, in collaboration with Nereus Pharmaceuticals, and a Phase I study of perifosine, lenalidomide (REVLIMID(R)), and dexamethasone in collaboration with Keryx Biopharmaceuticals.

"Deacetylase inhibitors may represent a new treatment options for cancer patients and the MMRC is proud to work with Novartis to advance this important clinical program," said Kathy Giusti, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the MMRC, as well as a myeloma patient. "This trial and the others the MMRC is facilitating demonstrate the importance of novel collaborations in bringing new treatments to patients."

Named ALPHA-MM, this trial is a single arm, open label, multi-center global study that will enroll 144 patients in the United States, Canada, and Europe. MMRC Member Institutions that will enroll patients are Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, City of Hope National Medical Center, Emory University, Hackensack University Medical Center, Mayo Clinic, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, and Washington University.

This trial is open to patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma who have received at least two lines of therapy, and whose disease progressed on their most recent therapy. Prior therapy must have included bortezomib (VELCADE(R)) or lenalidomide.

LBH589 is part of a promising class of drugs called deacetylase inhibitors or HDAC inhibitors, which may play an important role in helping to slow or stop the growth of multiple myeloma cells. Preclinical laboratory data suggests that LBH589 has significant activity against multiple myeloma cells, including those that are resistant to conventional therapies.

About the Multiple Myeloma Research Consortium (MMRC)

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 13 member institutions: City of Hope, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Emory University's Winship Cancer Institute, the Cancer Center at Hackensack University Medical Center, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Mayo Clinic, Ohio State University, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, St. Vincent's Comprehensive Cancer Center of Saint Vincent Catholic Medical Centers of New York, University Health Network (Princess Margaret Hospital), University of Chicago, University of Michigan, and Washington University.

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 -- 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 http://www.themmrc.org.

The Multiple Myeloma Research Consortium
http://www.themmrc.org

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