I’ll bet that no one else noticed this feature on Sokolove Law, LLC’s website?

While it is a bit “after the fact,” it is exciting to learn this evening that the FDA has approved administering Velcade sub-q.

I wanted to share some excerpts from a sort of “year in review” interview with Dr. Deborah Dunsire, CEO of Millennium Pharmaceuticals, makers of Velcade.  I found this article on a site called Mass High Tech.com earlier this month:

Here is information about Millennium’s new, oral proteasome inhibitor, MLN9708.  Looks like they are making good progress…

Final results from the international, five year VISTA Velcade study were released yesterday at ASH.  Look this over and see what you think…

Wednesday I took part in a media press event at the Charles Hotel in historic Cambridge, Massachusetts, located just across the river from Boston.

I’m here in Boston, preparing for this afternoon’s media event.

I just received an email from a multiple myeloma support group member and regular reader, Karen, wondering if I could come speak to their group in South Carolina.  She even offered to let me stay in her home.

If you have been following news from this week’s International Myeloma Workshop in Paris, you couldn’t help but notice how the big news centered around a Revlimid maintenance therapy. 

Read this detailed recap/tribute to Geraldine Ferraro by Ann Law for Bizmology.com:

Millennium, makers of Velcade, have launched a fundraising campain for the International Myeloma Foundation (IMF), called 1000 CRANES OF HOPE.

I have met Dr. Dunsire several times.  She is an incredibly impressive woman!  Tall, elegant, uber- intelligent–yet personable and approachable.

More news from last month’s ASH.  Here is a University of Michigan press release about the early success of a Revlimid/carfilzomib/dex combo in multiple myeloma patients:

Happy New Year! I wanted to share my multiple myeloma research and drug company “wish list” with my fellow patients and caregivers today.

Last week I wrote several articles about the results from two new studies, both finding an 8% risk of developing a secondary cancer in patients who use Revlimid over an extended period of time.

It is always interesting to see how the general medical community views multiple myeloma/ASH related news.  Here is an article from the well respected Internal Medical News about three Millennium Pharmaceutical studies featuring bortezomib (Velcade) at ASH:
Bortezomib-Based Regimens Help Older Patients With Multiple Myeloma
By: NEIL OSTERWEIL, Internal Medicine News Digital Network – 12/15/10

Almost two years ago, I learned Millennium was working on a new, more convenient way to administer Velcade.  Subcutaneous (subq for short) administration–shots given with a small needle just under the skin, often in the belly–would cost less and save nurses and patients time. 

While I was researching my pre-ASH article on our Help With Cancer.org site this morning (that is where I post non-myeloma related cancer news from large oncology conferences like ASH and ASCO), I found this interesting tidbit burried deep in one of Pfizer’s press releases:

Yesterday’s article, Pre-American Society Of Hematology (ASH) News Starting To Break, featured the first part of Millennium Pharmaceutical’s Curtainraiser ASH Preview Press Release.

I have been biding my time, waiting to write an article previewing next month’s American Society of Hematology (ASH) meetings.