Amgen’s Kyprolis now available to UK multiple myeloma patients
pharmafile | February 12, 2016 | News story | Medical Communications, Sales and Marketing | Amgen, Kyprolis, multiple myeloma
Amgen has announced the UK launch of Kyprolis (carfilzomib) in combination with Revlimid (lenalidomide) and dexamethasone for the treatment of multiple myeloma in adults who have received at least one prior therapy.
Carfilzomib is the first licensed irreversible proteasome inhibitor for use in combination treatment of patients with relapsed multiple myeloma.
The European Commission approved the carfilzomib/lenalidomide/ dexamethasone (KRd) combo in November, based on results from the ASPIRE study, in which carfilzomib was shown to delay median time to progressive disease or death by 8.7 months compared to patients treated with lenalidomide and dexamethasone alone. The median PFS was 26.3 months in the KRd arm of the study.
Amgen said it expects to make a submission to NICE later in 2016, based on the ASPIRE study, as well as results from another Phase III trial, ENDEAVOR, which is comparing Kyprolis and dexamethasone to Velcade (bortezomib) and dexamethasone in relapsed multiple myeloma patients. The data from the latter study are currently being reviewed by the EMA.
“Multiple myeloma is a rare and aggressive blood cancer that often becomes resistant to treatment, which is why there is a need for new therapeutic options that extend the time patients live without their disease progressing,” says Tony Patrikios, executive medical director at Amgen UK.
“Although advances in treatment have been made over recent decades, multiple myeloma remains an incurable disease. We deeply appreciate the commitment of patients in over 20 UK clinical centres who have participated in clinical trials that has allowed us to bring carfilzomib to patients in the UK. Carfilzomib provides an important new treatment option for relapsed multiple myeloma, helping to address a real unmet need for this rare blood cancer. We will continue to work with all our partners and stakeholders to ensure this new medicine is made available to patients in the UK.”
Myeloma UK chief executive Eric Low adds: “Myeloma is a relapsing and remitting cancer and so it’s extremely important that we continue to see access to new effective treatments. To that end, we very much welcome the European approval of carfilzomib and we will work closely with Amgen and the various healthcare technology assessment bodies in the UK to ensure that patients get access as quickly as possible.”
Multiple myeloma is the second most common blood cancer in the UK, characterised by unregulated plasma cell proliferation. There are approximately 4,900 new cases diagnosed each year in the UK, and there are an estimated 15,000-20,000 people currently living with myeloma in the country. Less than half of multiple myeloma patients survive for five years post-diagnosis.
Joel Levy
Related Content
Heidelberg Pharma gains FDA ODD for ATAC candidate
Heidelberg Pharma has announced that it has gained Orphan Drug Designation (ODD) from the US …
GSK shares results from phase 3 trial for Blenrep for treatment of multiple myeloma
GSK has announced positive results from an interim analysis of the DREAMM-8 phase 3 head-to-head …
Amgen opens new biomanufacturing facility in Ohio, US
Amgen has announced that it has opened a new manufacturing site in Central Ohio, US. …
