Hematology

There are 40 genes involved in the development of multiple myeloma, according to new research.

Officials with the FDA have expanded the approval of Amgen's blinatumomab (Blincyto) to include the treatment of adults and children with B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia who are in remission but still have minimal residual disease.

Blinatumomab (Blincyto) can be used in patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia who are in remission but still have minimal residual disease.

AbbVie and the International Myeloma Foundation will explore the outcomes of patients with multiple myeloma who have a specific genetic mutation.

Nilotinib (Tasigna) was previously granted priority review for the treatment of pediatric patients with Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia.

Duvelisib monotherapy demonstrated safety and efficacy in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma.

Study results show patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma showed a lower risk of disease progression or death with daratumumab added to the standard regimen of bortezomib, melphalan and prednisone, than patients who were treated without daratumumab in their drug combination.

High-grade cardiovascular adverse events are twice as common when patients with multiple myeloma are treated with carfilzomib.

FDA grants priority approval to arsenic trioxide (Trisenox) plus tretinoin for leukemia treatment.

Denosumab (Xgeva) demonstrated non-inferiority to zoledronic acid in patients with multiple myeloma.

Daratumumab combination therapy tripled the minimal residual disease negativity rate among patients with multiple myeloma.

Nilotinib (Tasigna) label includes information for patients with chronic myeloid leukemia who may stop treatment after achieving remission.

CAR T cell therapy resulted in a high response rate among previously-treated patients with multiple myeloma.

The FDA previously found that PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors may increase the mortality risk for patients with multiple myeloma.

The FDA granted approval to numerous specialty drugs last week.

Dasatinib (Sprycel) approved for pediatric patients with Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia.

Nearly all patients treated with dasatinib (Sprycel) achieved a complete cyotgenic response.

Top news of the week from Specialty Pharmacy Times.

Vemurafenib is a kinase inhibitor indicated to treat patients with Erdheim-Chester disease with BRAF V600 mutations.

Vemurafenib (Zelboraf) receives priority review for Erdheim-Chester Disease.

Officials with the FDA have extended the approval of vemurafenib (Zelboraf, Genentech) to include the treatment of certain adult patients with Erdheim-Chester Disease (ECD), a rare blood cancer, making it the first approved treatment for ECD.

Novel drug causes apoptosis in leukemia cells, while leaving healthy blood cells unscathed.

PPARγ agonists may improve outcomes for patients with acute myeloid leukemia.

Patients undergoing chemotherapy can use Emend with other antiemetic medicines to prevent chemotherapy-related nausea and vomiting.

Patients undergoing chemotherapy can use Emend with other antiemetic medicines to prevent CINV.