Pharmaceutical Business review

Celgene-sponsored Phase III combination therapy delays myeloma progression

The updated clinical data from the pivotal international Phase III trial reported median time-to-disease progression (TTP) in patients receiving lenalidomide plus dexamethasone compared to patients receiving dexamethasone plus placebo (p< 0.0001). In the North American Phase III trial (MM-009) the updated clinical data reported overall survival and median TTP in patients receiving lenalidomide plus dexamethasone compared to patients receiving dexamethasone plus placebo (p< 0.0001). The median TTP with lenalidomide plus dexamethasone was 11.3 months, compared with 4.7 months for dexamethasone plus placebo (p< 0.0001). This constituted the longest TTP seen to date in previously treated multiple myeloma patients in Phase III trials. Overall response rate with lenalidomide plus dexamethasone was 60.2%, compared with 24% for dexamethasone plus placebo (p< 0.001). These randomized Phase III trials have produced the highest response rate to date of any Phase III trial in previously treated patients with multiple myeloma. In addition, patients in the two Phase III trials showed the greatest improvement to date in TTP and deepest response rates if used earlier on in the treatment. Finally, patients in the trial showed the greatest duration of response at more than 15 months.