Results of a small French study indicate that the use of red blood cell-stimulating agents may improve survival in higher-risk myelodysplastic syndromes who are being treated with Vidaza.

Specifically, the French researchers found that patients who received red blood cell-stimulating agents and Vidaza had significantly longer survival times than patients who were treated with Vidaza alone.

However, due to the retrospective nature of the study and the small number of patients receiving red blood cell-stimulating agents, the study investigators caution that the use of red blood cell-stimulating agents should be…

Results of a retrospective analysis indicate that stem cell transplantation does not significantly improve survival for higher-risk myelodysplastic syndromes patients compared to treatment with Vidaza or Dacogen.

As a result, the researchers who conducted the analysis conclude that treatment with Vidaza (azacitidine) or Dacogen (decitabine) is an “adequate alternative” for myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) patients ineligible for stem cell transplanta­tion.  They also recommend that transplant-eligible patients be treated with Vidaza or Dacogen while waiting for a stem cell donor.

The findings were presented at the 2011 meeting of…

Preliminary results from two independent clinical trials indicate that panobinostat in combination with Vidaza may be effective and safe for higher-risk myelodysplastic syndromes patients.

The studies were presented at the American Society of Hematology (ASH) annual meeting in San Diego this past December.

Panobinostat (LBH589), which is being developed by the pharmaceutical company Novartis (NYSE: NVS), belongs to a class of drugs known as histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors.  HDAC inhibitors work by increasing the production of proteins that slow cell division and cause cell death.

When used alone, panobinostat has…

Results of a recent, small French study indicate that it may be possible for myelodysplastic syndromes patients to receive Vidaza treatment at home instead of at a doctor’s office or hospital.

The findings were presented at the 2011 American Society of Hematology (ASH) meeting in San Diego last month.

In France, chemotherapy is typically administered in a hospital. However, the French National Health Service allows home administration of some chemo­therapy treatments after the first treatment cycle.

A group of French researchers, therefore, sought to investigate if Vidaza (azacitidine) could…

Results from two independent clinical trials continue to show that myelodsyplastic syndromes patients may be effectively treated using both Vidaza and Revlimid.

Treatment with a combination of Vidaza (azacitidine) and Revlimid (lenalidomide) has previously been shown to be effective in higher-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) patients with or without chromosomal abnormalities.

The two new studies on the combined use of Vidaza and Revlimid were presented at the 2011 American Society of Hematology (ASH) meeting last month.

Phase 2 Trial: Simultaneous Treatment With Vidaza And Revlimid

Dr. Mikkael…