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The Bright Future: Advancements Toward a Myeloma Cure
We read, hear and see so much negative news that it is important to remember that good things are happening too. That includes getting closer to finding a cure for myeloma.
But what does “a cure” really mean?
The outlook on response,…
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After returning from Europe, where Susie and I recently received a joint honorary doctorate from VUB, there was much catching up to do. But when I arrived home from the office, the Wi-Fi was not working. This is a…
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The title of John Steinbeck’s novella “Of Mice and Men” was inspired by Robert Burns’ well-known poem, “To a Mouse.” In it, the poet notes that the best…
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At the recent VUB Honorary Doctorate Awards Ceremony at the University of Brussels, the focus was on “Figures That Matter.” The word “figures” had a double meaning: numbers and facts, as well as individuals and personalities. Susie and I…
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Although Yolande Paine has been living with multiple myeloma, she draws strength from being a Myeloma Warrior. At the Brian D. Novis Research Grant Awards reception, a night filled with hope held annually during the American Society of Hematology meeting, Yolande movingly described her…
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Update as of February 2, 2022
Secura Bio has since announced that it has decided to withdraw the accelerated approval of the New…
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Cures Reported in Two Blood Diseases: What It MeansIt is unexpected and wonderful to have reported cures for a patient with HIV/AIDS and…
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Myeloma Warrior Mindset: How Teamwork Helps Patients ThriveAlthough Ron Hood has been living with multiple myeloma, he draws strength from being a Myeloma Warrior. At the 2018 Brian D. Novis Research Grant Awards reception, a night filled with hope held annually during the American Society…
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In an emotional discussion on Tuesday, February 26 at the FDA’s Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee (ODAC) meeting, committee members voted 8 to 5 to await the results of an…
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Tracking Early DiseaseIn this week’s Myeloma Minute, a new video gives an overview of the IMF Black Swan Research Initiative (BSRI). As we move into 2019, there are ambitious plans to accelerate the search…
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Although Valarie Traynham has been living with multiple myeloma, she draws strength from being a Myeloma Warrior. At the Brian D. Novis Research Grant Awards reception, a night filled with hope held annually during the American Society of Hematology meeting, Valarie movingly described her…
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Ever since the IMF launched the Black Swan Research Initiative (BSRI) in 2012 to find the pathway to a cure for multiple myeloma, the project has focused on achieving and documenting minimal residual disease (MRD), the lowest level of disease possible with currently…
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It was a very sad day in December 2018 when I learned of the passing of Hardy Jones, a patient who was a myeloma warrior and true inspiration to the myeloma community. Since 1978, Hardy had pursued a life devoted to the study and protection…
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Future Multiple Myeloma Therapy and Eliminating Resistant Disease As we grapple with the outcomes from the myeloma research presented in San Diego last week at the 2018 Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH), it is worth pondering the future for myeloma therapies. So many…
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On September 28, the US FDA permitted marketing of ClonoSEQ assay, a next-generation sequencing (NGS) test used for assessing minimal residual disease (MRD) in multiple myeloma. This is excellent news and…
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On Thursday, November 15, the iStopMM (Iceland Screens Treats or Prevents Multiple Myeloma) team gathered at the deCODE genetics facility in Reykjavik, Iceland, for the 3rd Annual iStopMM research review…
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On Wednesday, November 7, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the approval of elotuzumab (Empliciti®) by intravenous injection in combination…
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ASCENT Trial: Early Intervention in Smoldering Myeloma
The ASCENT trial (Aggressive Smoldering Curative Approach Evaluating Novel Therapies) is evaluating the effectiveness and safety of the combination of Darzalex® (daratumumab) + Kyprolis® (carfilzomib) + Revlimid® (…
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Asian Myeloma Network Summit Highlights in Beijing The past weekend, October 19-21, the IMF convened the second annual Asian Myeloma Network (AMN) Summit in Beijing. The first AMN Summit was in Seoul, South Korea last October. Members from the seven…
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The last IMF Patient & Family Seminar of the year was held this past weekend in Philadelphia. These two-day meetings bring patients and caregivers together with myeloma experts, nurses, and IMF staff to educate and…
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As part of its mission to establish guidelines for myeloma treatment and diagnosis, the International Myeloma Working Group (IMWG) has just published guidelines for whole-body low-dose CT, an imaging modality for bone disease assessment. This…
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I was recently saddened to learn about a myeloma patient I had seen in consultation many years ago, who, unfortunately, passed away from secondary complications at the age of 76, after 24 years of myeloma. An ASCT (autologous stem cell transplant) had really knocked out his myeloma, which was not a…
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2018 Global Myeloma Updates from the IMWG Summit The International Myeloma Foundation (IMF) will host the 9th Annual International Myeloma Working Group (IMWG) Summit from June 11–13 in…
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Cure Is the Goal — But Don't Forget PreventionThe myeloma “cure” trials CESAR and ASCENT, which are part of the IMF’s…
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The diagnosis of multiple myeloma is a life-changing event. A complex, life-threatening problem has the power to overwhelm. The recent heatwave in California offered poignant examples of the impact of acute stress on ourselves and the environment. Although the massive wildfires were not close…
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Each patient with multiple myeloma is different. Within a myeloma support group, one can learn a lot about testing and treatments, but outcomes for individual patients are often very different. These differences must be studied in rigorously designed clinical trials to double-check test results and…
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Embracing the Mediterranean Diet: Healthy Summer Food Choices
I have written a lot about healthy food choices, so recent articles stressing the benefits of the Mediterranean-style diet caught my eye. Apparently, it is not easy for Americans to switch to this healthier approach, with its emphasis…
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This week, the myeloma community can celebrate with the International Myeloma Foundation as we appreciate the significance and the hopefulness of a very important wedding. This past weekend, Ally Tuohy, daughter of Robin and Michael Tuohy, was married to Jonathan Fitzpatrick. Robin is the IMF…
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As we celebrate the nation’s birthday this week, it seems that almost everyone is concerned about challenges that lie ahead, be they personal or on a large scale. Stepping outside, I worry about the increasingly high temperatures in the U.S., as well as in Europe, Latin America, and Asia, where the…
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As the hubbub around ASCO 2018 comes to an end, what are the main takeaways?
For sure, the media blitz distorts the importance of some presentations versus others. In most cases, study results are preliminary, with further follow-up and traditional peer reviews still pending.
With these…
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For most myeloma patients, the idea of good health and longevity may seem like a distant dream. So, why talk about these things? Because, no matter what diagnosis or challenge we’ve been given, most of us still strive to achieve the best health and the longest life possible. Occasionally, that…
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The abstracts for the 2018 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting next month have just been released. Among the 7 oral presentations, 62 posters, and educational sessions focusing on multiple myeloma, no dramatic new findings are reported. But…
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The IMF team is in Tokyo this week. Susie Durie, Lisa Paik, Dan Navid, and I are here for the 43rd Annual Japanese Myeloma Society Meeting, the oldest of the country-based myeloma meetings globally and one of the most active.
It promises to be a busy week.
The Asia-Pacific region is home to…
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A new study shows that New York City firefighters who responded to the Sept. 11, 2001 World Trade Center terrorist attack are twice as likely to develop the myeloma…
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New Study Follows iStopMM's Lead on Myeloma PrecursorsEstablished in early 2016, the iStopMM® project to screen the entire population of Iceland for MGUS (monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance), the precursor to myeloma, will…
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Identifying Good-Risk vs. Poor-Risk MRD PatientsThis week, several reports provide good news for myeloma patients. The Spanish GEM/PETHEMA cooperative study group, supported through the Black Swan Research Initiative, has demonstrated important…
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The Link Between Toxic Exposures and Myeloma Risk
I have previously discussed ways to prevent myeloma. A key step is to avoid toxic exposures. Although the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), part of the U.…
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The IMF is very pleased to have established a partnership with AbbVie to conduct the largest, most comprehensive chart-review study of myeloma patients with the t(11;14)…
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This week, the IMF is launching a new initiative to provide current recommendations for myeloma management for the busy physicians, pharmacists, and nurses who are on the frontlines of providing patient care. The impetus for the initiative is the recognition that community health care providers…
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Budget cuts to programs aimed at protecting people from toxic exposure, investigating climate change, and accelerating scientific discoveries continue to raise concerns. Fortunately, there are also some amazing scientific developments on the horizon that should make us all hopeful. But first, the…
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Food is very much in the news this week. Friend and colleague Prof. Heinz Ludwig (International Myeloma Working Group and IMF Board of Directors member), called my attention to two food news reports:…
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A recent publication by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) emphasized the traditional key role of US investment in cancer research…
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Many people view a new year as an opportunity to make changes and take positive action in their lives. From big changes regarding our personal health (eating healthy, exercising regularly, and quitting smoking) to little ones for personal growth (read more, take up a new hobby, or learn a new…
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A recent analysis by reporter Erin Mershon in STAT offers five reasons why it is so very difficult to make drugs more affordable, despite President Trump’s repeated vow to lower prices. The five…
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The Future of Myeloma Treatment: Early Diagnosis, CRISPR, and CAR T-Cell Therapies
We are seeing exciting research lately that has serious implications for myeloma.
An easy blood test to catch cancer early was featured recently in the prestigious journal…
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Two recent news articles highlight the fractured nature of our healthcare delivery system. The first article describes how a radioactive isotope (Molybdenum-99 or “moly-99”) that is vital for…
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As the new year begins, important developments that will impact patients have been in the news, ranging from molecular testing to new therapies for myeloma. The depth and scope of these reports reflect what I think are five key trends for 2018 and beyond.
Precision medicine—What…
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A new year is often characterized by renewed hope, promises kept, and a sense of energy and purpose. In the world of nonprofit cancer research, it is all this and so much more. It is also an opportune time to accelerate progress toward our ultimate goal: finding the cure.
The International…
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ASH 2017 Myeloma CAR T-Cell Therapy Hype From Hope At the 2017 Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH) in Atlanta (December 9th -12th), 981 abstracts dealt with myeloma-related topics. Among all of these— some of which were discussed on the …
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iStopMM One Year Later: Progress and InsightsThe iStopMM (Screens, Treat, or Prevent Multiple Myeloma) project was launched on November 15, 2016, with strong support from the Black Swan Research…