CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts—Interim results of the large international phase III VISTA trial in patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma showed a significant improvement in all efficacy measures for bortezomib(Drug information on bortezomib) (Velcade), melphalan(Drug information on melphalan), and prednisone(Drug information on prednisone) vs melphalan/prednisone.
Based on the recommendation of an independent data monitoring committee, the control arm of the trial was stopped early to allow patients still being treated with melphalan/prednisone to have bor-tezomib added to their therapy, Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced in a press release.
"These results position Velcade-based therapy as a new standard of care for newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients," said Paul Richardson, MD, associate professor of medicine, Harvard Medical School, and a lead investigator of the VISTA trial. "The combination of Velcade with melphalan and prednisone surpassed all efficacy endpoints, including time to disease progression, complete remission rate, progression-free survival, and overall survival, and did so much earlier than expected. We are excited at the possibility that this new therapy could be available to our patients sooner than expected."
Based on the trial data, Millennium plans to file a supplemental new drug application with FDA in the first quarter of 2008 for use of Velcade in patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma. The agent is currently approved for myeloma patients who have received at last one prior therapy. The company expects the VISTA trial results to be presented in December at the American Society of Hematology annual meeting.Temsirolimus/bortezomib trial
In other myeloma news, the Multiple Myeloma Research Consortium has announced the initiation of a multicenter phase I/II clinical program to explore the combination of the mTOR inhibitor temsirolimus (Torisel) and bortezomib for the treatment of relapsed or refractory myeloma.
The phase I component of the trial will evaluate the safety of the combination and identify the maximum tolerated dose of the combination as well as a recommended dose for phase II study. The phase II component will evaluate response to the combination.Tanespimycin trials
Kosan Biosciences, Hayward, California, has reached a binding agreement with FDA on the design of its TIME-1 clinical trial, a pivotal phase III trial of the company's Hsp90 inhibitor tanespimycin as a treatment for multiple myeloma.
