I featured a number of links to important new therapy related news from ASH over the past few days at MyelomaNews.com.

I know, I know.  I’m falling behind!  I’m so busy collecting and analyzing newly released myeloma related research data, I have barely had time to write.

Yesterday I wrote about three anti-myeloma clinical studies involving carfilzomib, elotuzumab and panobinostat.

Let’s jump right in with more ASCO news.

The Myeloma Beacon ran an excellent review of new anti-myeloma therapies which are in late stages of development: 

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

As promised, here is the final installment of my three part report on the IMF’s ASH kick-off panel discussion Friday evening at the Peabody Hotel in Orlando:

I wanted to share my thoughts from ASH after a very busy weekend.  On our other daily site, http://www.helpwithcancer.org/, I am reporting about non-multiple myeloma related news from this year’s meetings.  You can imagine how difficult it is to determine which studies are most significant when dealing with dozens and dozens of hematological cancers.  I wrote this on Help With Cancer.org Saturday:

I would like to take this opportunity to once again thank Dr. Eric Rubin, Vice President of Merck Oncology, for taking the time to update us on vorinostat’s projected timeline.

Here is the second part of my two part interview with Dr. Eric Rubin, Vice President of Merck Oncology, makers of vorinostat–trade name Zolinza:

I have written a lot about two developmental, anti-myeloma drugs here recently, carfilzomib and pomalidomide.  But there are a number of other new, experimental drugs on the horizon.

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:

Here are course notes from the class I completed yesterday, Optimal Management Strategies and Novel Agents in Multiple Myeloma, specifically the section about clinical trials and new drug combination strategies:

Here is a press release, posted on the Drug Discovery & Development Website from Merck Pharmaceuticals about the new, experimental multiple myeloma drug, Vorinostat:

While I was in New Orleans at AHS, I had a chance to meet Dr. Kenneth Anderson, a myeloma specialist with Dana-Farber in Boston and Harvard Medical School.  Dr. Anderson is a small man–quiet and reserved.  So if he gets excited about something, you notice!  So as I passed the large Merck Pharmaceutical exhibit in the New Orleans Convention Center the following day, I heard a familiar monotone voice, but with that now familiar hint of excitement, coming from a nearby TV monitor.  It was Dr. Anderson, extolling the virtues of vorinostat and promoting several new Phase 2 studies involving the drug.  I was late for a meeting, but I still took time to listen to Dr. Anderson’s presentation.  The first studies combining vorinostat with Revlimid went exceedingly well.   Next, researchers are interested in confirming preliminary results showing vorinostat may work even better when combined with Velcade. Here is a link to one of those studies using vorinostat with Velcade in patients with refractory myeloma.  There are others as well.  Of all the drugs I saw previewed at ASH, vorinostat intrigues me most.  Apparently it works with either Revlimid or Velcade.  It isn’t promising the moon and stars, just improved performance.  And if Dr. Anderson is excited about it–so am I!

Yesterday I promised more information about vorinostat.  Here is what ChemoCare.Com has to say about the drug:

Carfilzomib. Can you hear/feel the “buzz?” The halls and Internet are filled with exciting news about this new proteasome inhibitor. Carefully planned by a new, large corporate owner, Onyx, the new drug is definitely the darling of this year’s ASH. It all starts with a well-placed, impressive booth here at the conference. Literature everywhere. Press releases. A grand reception/galla last evening–the beer was cold and the food was great! (I only had one–really!) This morning at 7 am, clinical trials were read and press releases flooded the wires. Why 7 am? To dominate the Monday am newscycle, of course! I could link you to a number of different Carfilzomib press releases. I will do that eventually, of course. But a prudent reporter and patient needs to let the food, beer, and dust settle a bit in order to clearly assess the real world potential and application of this new drug. Onyx claims the drug will help myeloma patients with relapsed and/or refractory myeloma. But the company also says it is fabulous for newly diagnosed patients as well! Yesterday I was a bit down as I began to realize just how long it may take some of these new myeloma wonder drugs like Carfilzomib and Vorinostat to become FDA approved. Lots of sizzle, but things could still be delayed–or go wrong–in the approval process. But after talking with Associate Director of Corporate Communications, Lori Murray, last evening, she stressed Carfilzomib may be available for use by patients with refractory (disease that is resistant to other therapies) multiple myeloma as early as 2011.

Program Director Dr. Brian Durie has just introduced tonight’s panel: Dr. Mario Boccadoro from Italy, Dr. Philippe Moreau from France, Dr. Robert Orlowski with M.D. Anderson Cancer Centers and Dr. Vincent Rajkumar from Mayo Clinic.

Dexamethasone has been combined with novel chemotherapy drugs like Thalomid, Velcade and Revlimid for years. But now there are a few newer drugs which are also starting to be used in combination as well. Doxil, cyclophosphamide and vorinostat are examples of this. All three are either available now, or have recently completed successful Phase III trials.

After 29 cycles of Revlimid you would think I would know what to expect: Day/night number three means cramps. It hasn’t been as bad now that my dose has been reduced to only 10 mg a day. But early this morning – BAM! Cramps in both calves at the same time. I hate that! So, here I sit, up early, showered and dressed. This is as good a time as any to share with you part of an outline I took from an on-line seminar I just watched through the MMRF Website about future prospects for patients with refractory (relapsed) multiple myeloma: