New Indication for Velcade in Previously Untreated Myeloma

FDA has approved Millennium and Takeda’s Velcade (bortezomib) for previously untreated multiple myeloma. “This comes as wonderful news for patients. The VISTA trial showed a 30% complete remission rate with bortezomib compared to 4% for the control arm. Importantly, patients treated with bortezomib also experienced a survival benefit,” said Paul Richardson, MD, senior investigator for the study and clinical director of the Jerome Lipper Multiple Myeloma Center at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. For a report on the VISTA study, see ONI March 2008, page 51.