The MDS Beacon™

Revlimid Receives Approval In Japan For Treatment Of Del-5q Myelodysplastic Syndromes – On Friday, Celgene announced that Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, the agency that is responsible for the regulation of pharmaceuticals and medical devices in Japan, approved Revlimid (lenalidomide) for the treatment of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) associated with a deletion 5q chromosomal abnormality. The approval was based on the efficacy and safety demonstrated during several international clinical trials. In the U.S., the approved use of Revlimid also requires that del-5q MDS patients be dependent on red blood cell transfusions. For more information, please see the Celgene press release.

Conference For MDS Patients And Their Families – The MDS Foundation is sponsoring a one-day conference for patients with MDS and their families on September 9 at the Hilton University of Florida Conference Center in Gainsville. Dr. Christopher Cogle, an MDS specialist from Shands Hospital at the University of Florida, will speak about the latest on the diagnosis and treatment of MDS. The event will begin at 9 a.m. and conclude at 2 p.m. It will include breakfast and lunch and is free to attend. Registration is required. For more information or to register, please see the MDS Foundation website.

For a more detailed listing of MDS related events, please check the MDS Beacon Events Calendar.