Revlimid boosts survival in multiple myeloma-study

Results from the trial, conducted in North America, showed that in the placebo group about half the patients had died within two years, the median point for that study. By contrast, more than half the patients in the Revlimid group are still alive after three years, which means the median point in that group has not yet been reached. Results from a similarly sized trial in Europe, which started six months later, appear to track those in the North American trial, the company said. Revlimid, which is currently approved to treat a group of blood disorders known as myelodysplastic syndromes, is expected shortly to also be approved as a treatment for multiple myeloma. Data presented at the ASCO meeting last year showed that patients with advanced multiple myeloma who were given Revlimid in combination with chemotherapy took an average of 15 months to relapse compared with five months for patients taking chemotherapy plus a placebo. Revlimid is expected to be approved as a treatment for patients who have failed other therapies, including Celgene's drug Thalomid, which is currently the standard of care for multiple myeloma. Both Thalomid and Revlimid carry prominent warnings that they may cause birth defects and are only available under restricted distribution programs. © Reuters 2006. All Rights Reserved.