This news is vitally important to a number of us who have been pushing for more individualized therapy regimens and dosing:

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

Last week I received this email from a reader with an interesting question:

I like the way these guys think!  Onyx is pushing development of carfilzomib hard.  Anticipating success, they plan to team-up with the MMRF to create the Carfilzomib Myeloma Access Program.

The Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF) has been covering the International Myeloma Workshop in Paris.  Here is their brief summary of the research trends with were revealed this week.  Please note the statement I have highlighted, in bold, toward the end of the summary:

I recently learned about an innovative fundraiser to help multiple myeloma research in the Tampa area.  Called Sweetwater’s Paddle for the Cure, friends tell me it is a fun way to help raise lots and lots of money! 

The last couple of days, two of my readers have shared their frustrations with the slow pace of myeloma research.

I have received a number of calls and e-mails recently from patients who’s multiple myeloma has become active again while using Revlimid, Velcade, or both.  Here is a short, hopeful response I found addressing this on the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF) Website:
Treatment Options for Relapsed or Refractory Patients Failing Revlimid and Velcade:

Q&A with Dr. Keith Stewart, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, Arizona
What are my current options if I fail Revlimid® (lenalidomide) and Velcade® (bortezomib)?
Fortunately, there are many existing therapies available for the treatment of relapsed and/or refractory myeloma. Conventional chemotherapy drugs that may be effective include Cytoxan® (cyclophosphamide), melphalan, and anthracyclines such as doxorubicin or Doxil® (doxorubicin HCL liposome injection). Thalomid® (thalidomide) may still be an option if patients have not received it previously. These drugs may be used in various combinations that may even include trying Velcade or Revlimid again.

Here is a link to a helpful, well produced webinar, featuring Nick Tiller and 16+ year multiple myeloma survivor Lt. Frank Cronin, about living with multiple myeloma and the efforts of the MMRF to cure this disease.

A reader was excited about this and asked if I would post this research related press release from the MMRF:

Two weeks ago I concluded a group of somewhat critical articles about the MMRF and IMF. The idea for the articles came from several fellow multiple myeloma patients I know. The first article, which ran Tuesday, September 14, 2010 was titled What Is The Best Way To Conduct Multiple Myeloma Research?

I had already written part of today’s article. But after reading this comment from Nick in California, defending the MMRF, I decided to go in a different direction:

Yesterday I shared my feelings about the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF). It is unfortunate that their great work is sometimes overshadowed by hyperbole—by the group’s culture of aggressive fundraising and self promotion.

Today I will be exploring the Multiple Myeloma Reasearch Foundation’s (MMRF) role as a fundraiser. How focused, targeted, efficient and transparent is the MMRF?

Yesterday I promised to tackle both of these important questions this week:

As promised, today I would like to take a look at how a drug like thalidomide, which was first created and distributed over forty years ago, could still be controlled by drug maker Celgene.

The Journal of New England Technology ran this article Friday:

When I set out to write my first book, Living with Multiple Myeloma, I pledged to update it each and every year as long as my health would allow. 

As I was sitting uncomfortably in my way-too-small seat, waiting to take off from Charlotte, North Carolina on my way to a support group meeting Saturday afternoon in Jackson, Mississippi, I happened to be reading the latest Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF) newsletter. There I stumbled upon a chart listing the all of the myeloma drugs currently being used in Phase II and III clinical trials. The page was filled with exotic, difficult to pronounce drug names and hyphenated, mysterious code-like numbers. I recognized several of the drugs on the list. I also found four or five I was not familiar with.

Hearing you have multiple myeloma is always devastating news—especially when you are young. One of my readers, Topper, supports this fund raising effort by the Wilson Family, on behalf of their youngest daughter, Laura. Here is a link to the MMRF host site:  San Francisco Race For Research- Wilson Family Team.