Drug combo for myeloma treatment gets OK
The combination of doxorubicin HCl liposome injection (Doxil, Ortho Biotech) and bortezomib (Velcade, Millennium/Johnson & Johnson) has been granted FDA approval for treating patients with multiple myeloma who have received at least one prior therapy but have not received earlier treatment with bortezomib.
The combination of doxorubicin HCl liposome injection (Doxil, Ortho Biotech) and bortezomib (Velcade, Millennium/Johnson & Johnson) has been granted FDA approval for treating patients with multiple myeloma who have received at least one prior therapy but have not received earlier treatment with bortezomib. Approval was based on results of a phase III trial comparing the combination treatment with bortezomib alone in patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma. Results showed the two medications significantly extended the time to disease progression from 6.5 months to 9.3 months, a 43% improvement in response, compared with bortezomib alone. The International Myeloma Foundation called the approval a perfect fit in a treatment strategy that includes using drugs in combination and in sequence to extend patients' lives.
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