Articles tagged with: Myelodysplastic Syndrome
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Researchers have published results of a clinical study examining a five-day intravenous (IV) dosing regimen for Vidaza (azacitidine), a common treatment for myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS).
The researchers, based at Washington University in St. Louis, find that a five-day IV regimen yielded response rates and response durations similar to those reported for the standard seven-day subcutaneous Vidaza dosing regimen. At the same time, overall survival times for the five-day regimen were lower than observed in studies using the standard regimen.
Vidaza is typically administered by two or three subcutaneous injections each…
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A Phase 3 study completed by the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group shows that lower-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) patients with anemia benefit from erythropoietin (EPO) treatments plus supportive care to increase their red blood cell counts, compared to patients who receive supportive care alone. The benefits are even higher when EPO is combined with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF).
EPO belongs to the group of erythropoiesis stimulating agents (ESAs), which help to increase the red blood cell count in MDS patients who have MDS-related anemia. Sometimes when patients do not respond…
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Researchers Find Possible Gene Target for MDS Therapy - Researchers from the Van Andel Research Institute in Grand Rapids, Michigan, report that the gene RhoB plays an important role in the development of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). They found, in particular, that MDS progresses more rapidly when levels of the protein produced by RhoB are low. There is hope that examining RhoB levels in MDS advanced patients may help in the selection of the most appropriate treatments, and that future therapies will target this gene to prevent MDS progression. For more details, please see the related press release.
FDA Advisory Committee Set to Review Ferriprox - (See important update immediately below) On October 6, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Oncology Drugs Advisory Committee (ODAC) will review the iron chelating agent Ferriprox (deferiprone) for possible marketing approval in the U.S. Ferriprox is approved for sale in a number of countries outside of the U.S., and is used to treat iron overload in patients who require frequent blood transfusions. The meeting will include presentations by Ferriprox manufacturer ApoPharma Inc. and the FDA staff as well as questions from the public. The FDA usually follows the advice it receives from its advisory committees, but it is not required by law to do so. For more information, please see the meeting’s draft agenda and the Ferriprox Web site (intended for non-U.S. visitors).
Update: The FDA has announced that the Ferrirprox review meeting has been cancelled “to allow time for the FDA to review and resolve several outstanding issues.” The agency says that it intends to continue evaluating Ferriprox, and it will reschedule the ODAC meeting “as needed.”
Living With Myelodysplastic Syndromes One-Day Conference – The Moffitt Cancer Center and the Aplastic Anemia & MDS International Foundation (AA&MDSIF) are sponsoring a free opportunity to learn about the latest MDS diagnostic and treatment information, and ask questions of leading MDS researchers. This one-day conference will be on Saturday, October 10, at the Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Florida, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Breakfast and lunch are provided. Space is limited, so please register by October 2. For more information, please visit the AA&MDSIF Web site.
MDS Patient & Family Forum – Participate in a forum organized by the Myelodysplastic Syndromes Foundation on Tuesday, October 6, in Ontario, Canada. Dr. Karen Yee from Princess Margaret Hospital will be providing information pertinent to MDS patients and their families. Individuals must register by calling 1-800-MDS-0839 or emailing dmurray@mds-foundation.org. For a listing of other upcoming U.S. and international forums, please see the MDS Foundation Web site.
For a more detailed listing of MDS-related events, please check the MDS Beacon Events Calendar.
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A new study summarizes results from a review of previous published research into the treatment of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) patients with the hypomethylating agents Vidaza (azacitidine) and Dacogen (decitabine). The study finds that treatment with the hypomethylating agents produces longer overall survival than conventional care. This survival benefit, however, comes with a greater risk of serious treatment side effects.
Selected results from the new study, by a team from Tel Aviv University in Israel, were presented this summer at the European Hematology Association 14th Congress in…
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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced on September 25 that it is examining the safety of Exjade (deferasirox) when prescribed to myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) patients. An initial FDA data analysis shows that MDS patients taking Exjade have a greater risk of serious side effects than patients without MDS. The FDA announced it needs to further analyze the specifics of the Exjade side effects, however, before coming to a final conclusion about the drug’s safety for MDS patients.
Exjade is an iron chelating agent, a type of drug used to bind free…