[ by | Jan 4, 2012 1:52 pm | One Comment ]
Phase 1/2 Trials Find Estybon Effective And Safe For MDS Patients (ASH 2011)

The final results from four Phase 1/2 clinical trials of the investigational drug Estybon show that the drug is effective and safe for myelodysplastic syndromes patients.

These findings were presented during a poster sessoin at the 2011 annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH) last month.

Estybon (rigosertib, ON 01910.Na) is an investigational drug that is being developed by the pharmaceutical company Onconova Therapeutics.  It works by inhibiting cell growth and selectively killing cancer cells.

Four independent Phase 1/2 trials of the efficacy and safety of Estybon in…

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[ by | Dec 28, 2011 6:03 pm | No Comment ]
MDS Patients Ineligible For Clinical Trials May Benefit From Treatment With Vidaza and Zolinza (ASH 2011)

Results of a recent study show that myelodysplastic syndromes patients who are in poor health and therefore ineligible for clinical trials may benefit from treatment with Vidaza and Zolinza.

The study authors found that the efficacy and safety of the combination therapy were similar to those of other treatment regimens commonly tested in clinical trials.

They concluded that their findings support treatment for patients who are ineligible for clinical trials, and they suggested that current eligibility criteria for Phase 1/2 clinical trials be reexamined.

Dr. Guillermo Garcia-Manero of the MD…

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[ by | Dec 22, 2011 3:52 pm | No Comment ]
Revlimid Shows Survival Benefit In Subgroup Of Lower-Risk MDS Patients (ASH 2011)

A retrospective analysis indicates that treatment with Revlimid improved survival in lower-risk myelodysplastic syndromes patients with a deletion in chromo­some 5 who initially were transfusion dependent.

Dr. Andrea Kuendgen of the Heinrich-Heine-Universitaet in Duesseldorf, Germany, presented the findings at the 2011 American Society of Hema­tology (ASH) conference in San Diego last week.

Revlimid (lenalidomide) is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Admin­istration as a treatment for the subgroup of lower-risk myelodys­plastic syndromes (MDS) patients who are dependent on blood transfusions and have a deletion of the long arm in chromosome…

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[ by | Dec 19, 2011 3:14 pm | No Comment ]
Combination Of Vidaza And Donor Lymphocyte Infusions Shows Promise In Relapsed MDS Patients (ASH 2011)

A treatment combining Vidaza and infusions of donor white blood cells may be effective in myelodysplastic syndromes patients who relapse after stem cell transplantation, according to results of a small Phase 2 clinical trial conducted in Germany.

In addition, the study authors found that patients who had a complete response to the combination therapy experienced significantly longer overall survival than those who did not.

Dr. Thomas Schroeder of Heinrich Heine University in Duesseldorf, Germany, presented the clinical trial findings at the 2011 American Society of Hematology (ASH) conference in San…

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[ by | Dec 16, 2011 4:56 pm | No Comment ]
Low-Dose Clolar May Be Effective In High-Risk MDS Patients Who Fail Vidaza Treatment (ASH 2011)

Preliminary results of a Phase 1/2 trial indicate that treatment with low-dose Clolar during an extended, alternate day treatment schedule may be effective in high-risk myelodysplastic syndromes patients who no longer respond to Vidaza.

Dr. Thorsten Braun of the Avicenne Hospital in Bobigny, France, presented the trial results during an oral session at the 2011 meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH) earlier this week.

Patients who fail Vidaza (azacitidine) treatment typically have poor prognoses (see the related Beacon news).

Previous studies have shown that Clolar

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