Life and Death

Patients on Imatinib Achieve Complete Response With Continued Treatment: Presented at ASH

2006-12-15T09:42:00.000+02:00

By Ric Susman ORLANDO, FL -- December 13, 2006 -- Patients with newly diagnosed chronic myeloid leukemia who do not achieved a complete response with imatinib (Gleevec) within 6 months may benefit from continued therapy and can achieve a complete response after 18 months of treatment, doctors said here at the American Society of Hematology (ASH) 48[th Annual Meeting and Exhibition. Patients

Leukemia :: Patients Treated With SPRYCEL Achieved High Cytogenetic Responses

2006-12-15T09:38:00.000+02:00

Today, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (NYSE: BMY) announced results of a randomized Phase II study showing that a substantial number of patients with chronic-phase chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) resistant to Gleevec achieved cytogenetic and hematologic responses by three months and maintained these responses through one year when treated with SPRYCEL.The open-label, multi-center international

New Chemotherapy Combinations and Alternatives for Blood Cancers Offer Patients Better Results, Improved Quality of Life

2006-12-13T09:10:00.000+02:00

ORLANDO, Fla., Dec. 11 /PRNewswire/ -- While chemotherapy has been a standard of care for cancer patients for decades, doctors have struggled with the dangerous side effects of the toxic therapy, focusing their research on therapies that can produce the same results without causing additional harm. This is particularly important in blood cancers like leukemia and lymphoma, and three studies being

ChemGenex presents encouraging data on leukemia drug

2006-12-13T09:04:00.000+02:00

Ceflatonin is for use in chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) patients who have developed resistance to Gleevec and other tyrosine kinase inhibitors.Following treatment with the drug combination, 42% of patients achieved a hematologic response (reduction of leukemic cells in the blood), consisting of three complete hematologic responses (CHR) and two hematologic improvements. Two of the three patients

Bristol-Myers says leukemia drug better once-daily

2006-12-12T09:02:00.000+02:00

BOSTON, Dec 11 (Reuters) - Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. said on Monday that results of a late-stage trial showed patients did just as well on a lower-than-standard dose of its leukemia drug Sprycel and had fewer side effects. Data from the study, presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology, showed that patients receiving Sprycel 100 milligrams achieved a similar benefit at

Transplant drug fights leukemia

2006-12-12T08:59:00.000+02:00

ORLANDO, Fla., Dec. 11 (UPI) -- Doctors said Monday that a drug often used in preventing organ rejection in transplant patients appears to have a major impact on the most common form of adult leukemia. "Campath (alemtuzumab), used as a single agent, produced the highest response rate among patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), seen in any front-line trial," Peter Hillmen, consultant

Novartis drug Tasigna helps leukemia patients

2006-12-12T08:58:00.000+02:00

ZURICH (MarketWatch) -- Swiss drugmaker Novartis AG (NVS) said Monday an intermediate stage study showed that its experimental drug Tasigna achieved impressive results in the treatment of blood cancer patients who no longer responded to treatment with its drug Gleevec. The study showed that 74% of patients in the chronic phase of chronic myeloid leukemia, or CML, a blood cancer, achieved

New Options to Treat Chronic Myeloid Leukemia, Overcome Imatinib Resistance

2006-12-11T10:55:00.000+02:00

ORLANDO, Fla., Dec. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- The development of the targeted anticancer medicine imatinib has been a landmark event in the treatment of patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), a cancer of the bone marrow. However, over time, the cancer can become resistant to this treatment, usually because of mutations in the protein that imatinib targets. Two studies being presented today at the

Analysis: Gleevec's CML survival story

2006-12-11T10:54:00.000+02:00

By ED SUSMANUPI Health Business CorrespondentWEST PALM BEACH, Fla., Dec. 6 (UPI) -- After five years of treatment nearly 90 percent of leukemia patients treated with Gleevec are still alive -- an outcome barely conceivable before the drug was discovered. "The Gleevec story truly is a triumph of science over disease," Brian Druker, the lead investigator of the studies with the anti-cancer drug,

Novartis leukemia drug shows long-term effectiveness

2006-12-11T10:52:00.000+02:00

Novartis' leukemia drug Gleevec demonstrated high survival rates over five years, according to new research. Researchers said the study was the largest to evaluate Gleevec in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). The five-year overall survival of CML patients who received Gleevec as initial therapy was 89% when considering deaths from all causes. However, when deaths from causes unrelated to CML or

Imatinib Mesylate Demonstrates Highest Five-Year Overall Survival Rate in History of Treatment for Patients With Chronic Myeloid Leukemia

2006-12-08T09:33:00.000+02:00

New England Journal of Medicine article cites overall survival found to be 95% after excluding causes of death unrelated to CML or prior bone marrow transplantationGleevec results improve with long-term use - percentage of patients with no trace of disease-causing Philadelphia chromosome increased dramatically in fifth year of studyLong-term data confirm Gleevec as a generally well-tolerated

Abbott Introduces CE-Marked DNA Tests in Europe for the Detection of Chromosomal Abnormalities Associated With Leukemia

2006-12-07T09:28:00.000+02:00

DELKENHEIM, Germany, Dec. 4 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Abbott Molecular today announced that it has introduced six CE-marked DNA tests in Europe for use by diagnostic laboratories in identifying chromosomal abnormalities associated with certain forms of leukemia, a cancer of the white blood cells originating in the bone marrow.The tests are based on Abbott's proprietary fluorescence in situ

Chronic myeloid leukemia: Dasatinib circumvents Imatinib resistance

2006-09-21T09:44:00.000+03:00

Dasatinib ( Sprycel ) reverses the signs and symptoms of patients whose chronic myeloid leukemia has failed to respond to Imatinib ( Gleevec/Glivec ), which is considered the standard of treatment for the disorder.In a study published in The New England Journal of Medicine ( NEJM ), Howard Hughes Medical Institute ( HHMI ) researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles ( UCLA ), and

Dasatinib circumvents Imatinib resistance

2006-09-21T09:43:00.000+03:00

Gleevec® Improves Survival with CML

2006-09-21T09:38:00.000+03:00

Among patients with chronic-phase chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), treatment with Gleevec® (imatinib) appears to result in better survival than treatment with interferon-alfa and cytarabine. These results were published in the journal Blood.Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), also called chronic granulocytic leukemia, is a cancer that originates in the immune cells. In CML large numbers of young

MolecularMD Enters into Agreement with Breakthrough Therapeutics to Support Phase II Clinical Trial of ABLVAX(TM)

2006-09-21T09:37:00.000+03:00

PORTLAND, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 30, 2006--MolecularMD, a molecular oncodiagnostics company, has recently entered into an agreement with Breakthrough Therapeutics, a private oncology company based in Greenwich, CT, to monitor residual disease levels in patients undergoing Phase II clinical trials of their lead peptide vaccine, ABLVAX(TM) (VAX100). ABLVAX is a therapeutic vaccine currently

ChemGenex Announces Publication Of Two New Clinical Studies Supporting Expanded Opportunity For Ceflatonin(R) Beyond CML To Other Leukemias

2006-08-24T10:40:00.000+03:00

ChemGenex Pharmaceuticals Limited (ASX:CXS and NASDAQ:CXSP) announced today the recent publication of two clinical research papers that support the expansion of the clinical development of Ceflatonin(R) to include treatment of both newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients and those with advanced disease resistant to other therapies. Dr Jean-Pierre Marie of the Universite Pierre

Gleevec Can Cause Cardiac Toxicity

2006-08-23T14:13:00.000+03:00

Researchers from eight different medical institutions have reported that Gleevec (imatinib mesylate) can cause significant cardiac toxicity in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and can cause similar cardiac damage in mice. The details of this study appeared in the August 2006, issue of Nature Medicine .[1] An earlier publication from Korea reported two cases of heart failure with

Chronic myelogenous leukaemia: after five years on Gleevec overall survival reaches 89 percent

2006-08-23T14:12:00.000+03:00

A study of the Oregon Health & Science University ( OHSU ) Cancer Institute has shown that the overall survival of most people with chronic myelogenous leukemia ( CML ) treated with Imatinib ( Gleevec/Glivec, STI-571 ) is extremely high and the relapse rate is quite low.The overall survival at five years is 89 percent as compared to no more than 50 percent with prior therapies, and the risk of

Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplants Effective for CML Gleveec Failures

2006-08-23T14:11:00.000+03:00

Researchers from M.D. Anderson Cancer Center have reported that 6 of 10 patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) or acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) who were resistant to Gleevec (imatinib) were in complete molecular remission after an allogeneic stem cell transplant. The details of this study appeared in the August 15, 2006 issue of Blood.Prior to the development of Gleevec, allogeneic

CuraGen and TopoTarget Announce Initiation of NCI-sponsored Phase I Clinical Trial of PXD101 and Azacitidine

2006-08-23T14:10:00.000+03:00

BRANFORD, Conn., Aug. 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- CuraGen Corporation(Nasdaq: CRGN) and TopoTarget A/S (Copenhagen Stock Exchange: TOPO)announced today the initiation of patient dosing in a Phase I clinicaltrial evaluating the safety and tolerability of PXD101, a small moleculehistone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor, in combination with azacitidine forthe treatment of advanced hematologic

New hope in cancer vaccines emerges as novel therapies are developed and tested

2006-08-23T14:09:00.000+03:00

Scientists say advances in immunology help them design therapeutic vaccines Medicine can now prevent a host of diseases with a mere shot of vaccine. Polio and smallpox are almost non-existent, and mumps and chicken pox are rarely seen nowadays. And for the first time, the prospect of eradicating a specific cancer through vaccination is possible. The newly approved human papillomavirus (HPV)

MGI Pharma Gets Europe Orphan-Drug Status For Dacogen

2006-08-23T14:07:00.000+03:00

MGI Pharma Inc. (MOGN) has received orphan designation from the European Medicines Agency for Dacogen for injection for the indication of acute myeloid leukemia.The company said the orphan-drug designation was established by the EMEA to encourage the development of treatments for rare, life-threatening medical conditions. It said this designation may provide 10 years of market exclusivity in the

Transformation from committed progenitor to leukaemia stem cell initiated by MLL?AF9

2006-08-11T15:08:00.000+03:00

Andrei V. Krivtsov1, David Twomey1,5, Zhaohui Feng2, Matthew C. Stubbs1, Yingzi Wang1, Joerg Faber1, Jason E. Levine1,2, Jing Wang2, William C. Hahn3,5, D. Gary Gilliland4,6, Todd R. Golub2,5,6 and Scott A. Armstrong1,2Top of pageAbstractLeukaemias and other cancers possess a rare population of cells capable of the limitless

Glivec® receives positive European Union opinion for treatment of rare, potentially life-threatening cancers with limited treatment options

2006-08-11T15:06:00.000+03:00

Basel, July 28, 2006 - Novartis announced today that the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency (EMEA) has issued a positive opinion for the use of Glivec® (imatinib)[1] as a treatment for the solid tumor dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) and for hematologic malignancy Philadelphia chromosome-positive (Ph+) acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL).

Cancer drug Gleevec may damage heart - study

2006-08-11T14:11:00.000+03:00

WASHINGTON, July 23 (Reuters) - Gleevec, the pill that transformed cancer treatments by offering an easy way to target a difficult type of leukemia, may cause serious heart damage, researchers cautioned on Sunday. They found evidence that treatment caused heart failure in 10 patients who took Gleevec, made by Swiss drugmaker Novartis (NOVN.VX: Quote, Profile, Research). Patients should

Faster method IDs gene mutation's link to cancer

2006-07-21T15:00:00.000+03:00

Medical - Work on acute myeloid leukemia helps the effort to personal treatments Wednesday, July 19, 2006ANDY DWORKIN Scientists have come up with a faster way to find the genetic mutations that drive some cancers. Using a combination of high-tech tools, researchers in Oregon and elsewhere managed to discover a new mutation behind a type of acute myeloid leukemia in just two months. The

Mutations Point the Way to New Leukemia Drugs

2006-07-19T09:48:00.000+03:00

If you're like most Americans, either you or someone you know has probably been affected by cancer. And close to another million

Gleevec® for CML: Long-lasting Anticancer Responses Confirmed

2006-07-14T09:30:00.000+03:00

Researchers from the Oregon Health and Science University have reported that patients with chronic-phase chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) experience long-term, durable anticancer responses to first-line treatment with Gleevec® (imatinib mesylate). In fact, five-year overall survival with Gleevec is greater than with any other therapy for CML; as well, patients experience a diminishing annual

Novartis Launches Global Program Expanding Access to Investigational Compound Nilotinib (AMN107) for Patients With Hard-to-Treat Leukemia

2006-07-14T09:29:00.000+03:00

* New worldwide program addresses unmet medical need for patients withtreatment-resistant Philadelphia chromosome-positive (Ph+) chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) * Nilotinib receives FDA fast track designation in US as well as orphan drug status in both the US and EU * US and EU regulatory submissions now planned for late 2006 compared to

Cell Genesys Reports Long-Term Follow-Up Data From Phase 2 Trial of GVAX(R) Immunotherapy For Leukemia in Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia

2006-07-14T09:28:00.000+03:00

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., June 3 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Cell Genesys, Inc. (Nasdaq: CEGE - News) today reported encouraging long-term follow-up data from a Phase 2 trial of GVAX® immunotherapy for chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). A total of 19 CML patients with molecular evidence of persistent leukemia following at least one year of Gleevec® (imatinib mesylate) therapy were treated with

ASCO: FDA Panel Backs Agent to Treat Gleevec-Resistant CML

2006-07-14T09:25:00.000+03:00

ATLANTA, June 3 ? The FDA's Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee (ODAC) unanimously recommended approval of Sprycel (dasatinib) for chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) patients who are refractory or intolerant to Gleevec (imatinib mesylate). Meeting during the opening day of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) meeting, the ODAC session was believed to be the first time an agency

Molecular Therapies Tackle Blood Cancers

2006-06-27T10:03:00.000+03:00

SUNDAY, June 4 (HealthDay News) -- Breakthrough molecular therapies like Gleevec are dramatically increasing survival rates for patients with certain blood cancers.That good news, delivered Sunday at the American Society of Clinical Oncology annual meeting in Atlanta, raises the possibility that bone marrow transplants, once the last hope for these patients, will become a thing of the past."These

Study shows patients on Gleevec improve

2006-06-27T10:02:00.000+03:00

he targeted cancer therapy Gleevec created a stir five years ago with stunning results for patients with chronic myeloid leukemia. But the question remained: Would the drug work in the long haul, or would patients develop resistance? A study released yesterday followed more than 1,100 patients in 16 countries and found the drug has staying power. Five-year survival rates in the largest study

Novartis launches global program expanding access to investigational compound nilotinib (AMN107) for patients with hard-to-treat leukemia

2006-06-27T09:45:00.000+03:00

* New worldwide program addresses unmet medical need for patients with treatment-resistant Philadelphia chromosome positive (Ph+) chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) * Nilotinib receives FDA fast track designation in US as well as orphan drug status in both the US and EU * US and EU regulatory submissions now planned for late 2006 compared to earlier expectations for 2007 Basel, June 4,

Dasatinib Shows Greater Efficacy Than Very High-Dose Imatinib for Imatinib-Resistant Chronic-Phase Myelogenous Leukemia (CML) Patients

2006-06-27T09:44:00.000+03:00

By Bruce Sylvester ATLANTA, G.A. -- June 5, 2006 -- Interim data from a randomized, phase 2 study of dasatinib (140 mg/day) shows higher response rates versus imatinib (Gleevec) 800 mg/day in patients with chronic-phase myelogenous leukemia (CML) resistant to imatinib at doses of 600 mg/day or greater. The data were presented in an oral session here on June 3[rd at the American Society of

Novartis to submit leukemia drugnilotinib earlier; positive Glivec results

2006-06-27T09:43:00.000+03:00

ZURICH (AFX) - Novartis AG announced plans for an earlier than planned submission of leukemia drug nilotinib (AMN107), a compound currently in late-stage registration trials for patients with Philadelphia chromosome-positive (PH+) chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Novartis said it is now planning to submit nilotinib for US and EU regulatory approval in late 2006, compared to earlier estimates for

Glivec Enhances Survival Rates In Leukemia

2006-06-27T09:40:00.001+03:00

Glivec, a drug used to treat chronic myeloid leukemia has shown to improve the survival rates in 90 percent of patients with the cancer. The National Institute for health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), which regulates drug approvals in the UK had only wanted to approve Glivec for advanced cases, but the drug has not proved itself in clinical trials.CML is a common form of blood cancer, which

Data From a Randomized Phase II Study of Dasatinib or 800 Mg/Day Imatinib- Mesylate (Gleevec(R)) Presented at the 42nd Annual Meeting of the America

2006-06-27T09:40:00.000+03:00

ATLANTA, June 3 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Bristol-Myers Squibb Company today presented interim data from a randomized Phase II study of the investigational compound dasatinib (140 mg/day) or imatinib (800 mg/day) in patients with chronic-phase chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) resistant to imatinib (less than or equal to 600 mg/day). The data were presented today at the 42nd Annual Meeting of

Long-term benefits of imatinib for patients newly diagnosed with chronic myelogenous leukemia

2006-06-27T09:38:00.000+03:00

The overall survival of most people with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) treated with imatinib (Gleevec, STI-571) is extremely high and the relapse rate is quite low, according to new data from a study out of the Oregon Health & Science University Cancer Institute. The overall survival at five years is 89 percent as compared to no more than 50 percent with prior therapies, and the risk of

US FDA panel backs Bristol-Myers leukemia drug

2006-06-27T09:35:00.000+03:00

An experimental Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. pill should be approved for treating some types of leukemia in patients who have few if any other options, a U.S. advisory panel said on Friday. The drug called Sprycel reduced or eliminated leukemia cells in some patients who had stopped responding to Novartis AG's drug Gleevec or could not tolerate it, advisers to the Food and Drug Administration

New Leukemia Drugs

2006-06-27T09:33:00.000+03:00

POSTED: 11:52 am EDT June 1, 2006UPDATED: 11:53 am EDT June 1, 2006BACKGROUND: About 4,600 adults in the United States will be diagnosed with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) this year. Patients with CML have an overgrowth of white blood cells in their bone marrow and peripheral blood, which crowd out the red blood cells and platelets. Symptoms of the

MGI PHARMA Announces Commercial Availability of Dacogen(TM) (Decitabine) for Injection

2006-06-27T09:30:00.000+03:00

MGI PHARMA, INC. (Nasdaq:MOGN) today announced that Dacogen(TM) (decitabine) for Injection is now commercially available in the United States. Dacogen was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on May 2, 2006 for the treatment of patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) including previously treated and untreated, de novo and secondary MDS of all French-American-British (FAB)

New drugs help leukemia patients

2006-05-25T15:04:00.000+03:00

(TAMPA, Fla.) - Five years ago, the drug Gleevec changed the lives of patients with leukemia. But some patients become resistant to Gleevec over time. Now, doctors are studying two new treatments that are even more potent. This is more than a visit to a botanical garden for Amy Baker. It's part of what she calls her "leukemic" adventure. Baker was diagnosed with chronic myelogenous leukemia or

Novartis's Glivec may harm bones: study

2006-05-25T14:14:00.000+03:00

LONDON/ZURICH (Reuters) - Novartis AG's (NOVN.VX: Quote, Profile, Research) drug Glivec, which has dramatically improved survival prospects for some cancer patients, can interfere with bone development, according to U.S. researchers.Results of a small study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found the drug could inhibit bone formation and resorption -- a process known as bone

ChemGenex To Present At Rodman & Renshaw 3rd Annual Global Healthcare Conference

2006-05-25T14:11:00.000+03:00

ChemGenex Pharmaceuticals (ASX: CXS, NASDAQ: CXSP) will present at the Rodman & Renshaw 3rd Annual Global Healthcare Conference in Monte Carlo on Tuesday May 16, 2006. The presentation will be at 10:10 a.m. local time in the Atlantique Salon - Western of The Le Meridien Sea Club, Monte Carlo, Monaco. Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Greg Collier PhD will provide an overview of

Imatinib Treatment Linked to Hypophosphatemia, Altered Bone Metabolism

2006-05-25T14:10:00.000+03:00

By Anthony J. Brown, MDNEW YORK MAY 10, 2006 (Reuters Health) - Treatment with imatinib mesylate for chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) or gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) may result in hypophosphatemia, new research suggests. Even with normal phosphate levels, there is evidence that the drug may inhibit bone remodeling. Imatinib, which is marketed by Novartis Pharmaceuticals as Gleevec

2nd IFOM-IEO Campus Meeting On Cancer - Turn Those Genes Back On!

2006-05-25T14:08:00.000+03:00

Scientists call it ?epigenetic therapy of cancer?. Today it represents one of the most interesting available perspectives to ?correct? some genetic anomalies involved in the onset of neoplastic diseases, with the aid of drugs. So promising is it that, a few days ago, the US Food and Drug Administration (the American Agency in charge of controlling foods' and drugs' quality and safety) approved

Five years after approval, Gleevec underscores the promise of targeted therapy to provide sustained disease control

2006-05-25T14:04:00.000+03:00

- Unprecedented outcomes in Ph+ chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients validate the targeting of a specific cancer cause to create effective and well-tolerated therapies- First to show reduced annual progression rate with long-term use in newly diagnosed CML patients - less than 1% progress to more advanced stages of disease in fourth treatment year- New data from the largest CML study ever

U.S. FDA Approves Dacogen(TM) (Decitabine) for Injection; Dacogen(TM) Approved for Patients with all FAB Classifications of MDS

2006-05-24T17:00:00.000+03:00

MGI PHARMA, INC. (Nasdaq:MOGN) and SuperGen, Inc.(Nasdaq:SUPG) today announced that the U.S. Food and DrugAdministration (FDA) has approved Dacogen(TM) (decitabine) forInjection. Dacogen is indicated for treatment of patients withmyelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) including previously treated anduntreated, de novo, and secondary MDS of all French-American-British(FAB) subtypes (refractory anemia,

Two drugs offer new hope for leukemia patients

2006-05-24T16:59:00.000+03:00

About 4,600 adults in the United States will be diagnosed with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) this year. Patients with CML have an overgrowth of white blood cells in their bone marrow and peripheral blood, which crowd out the red blood cells and platelets. Symptoms of the disease include fatigue, unexplained weight loss, fever, night sweats or pain on their left side under the ribs caused

Power3 Medical Continues Building Patent and IP Portfolio, Filing for Permanent Patent on Test for ALS and Parkinson's

2006-05-24T16:51:00.000+03:00

Power3 Medical Products, Inc. (PWRM.PK), a leading proteomics company that develops and commercializes early detection diagnostic tests for cancer and neurodegenerative diseases, said today it has filed an application for another patent with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Initially filed on a provisional basis in May 2005, the application is for Power3's first generic, blood-based

Broken Stress Response System Can Contribute to Gleevec Resistance

2006-05-24T15:33:00.000+03:00

CHEVY CHASE, M.D. -- April 20, 2006 -- New clues to why some kinds of leukemia are more aggressive and deadly than others are coming from research examining the types of genetic damage that allow some blood cells to grow out of control, scientists report.According to Charles J. Sherr, a Howard Hughes Medical Institute researcher at the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee,

St. Jude unlocks mystery of very aggressive leukemia

2006-05-24T15:28:00.000+03:00

(EurekAlert): Investigators at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital have used mouse models to determine why some forms of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) are extremely aggressive and resist a drug that is effective in treating a different type of leukemia. The investigators found that the combination of a mutation called Bcr-Abl and the loss of both copies of the tumor suppressor gene Arf

MGI PHARMA Announces Publication of Phase 3 Data for Dacogen(TM) (Decitabine) for Injection in Cancer

2006-05-24T15:24:00.000+03:00

MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 18, 2006--MGI PHARMA, INC. (Nasdaq:MOGN), an oncology- and acute care-focused biopharmaceutical company, today announced publication of data from a randomized, controlled phase 3 trial (study 0007) of Dacogen(TM) (decitabine) for Injection in the journal Cancer. Dacogen is an investigational drug currently under review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (

Novartis completes submissions in US and Europe for Glivec® as treatment for four rare types of cancer

2006-04-12T15:37:00.000+03:00

- Research program based on Glivec-sensitive pathways in multiple rare disorders exemplifies future direction of targeted cancer diagnosis and treatment - Regulatory submissions reflect continued commitment to identifying new therapies for patients with rare diseases who have limited treatment options Basel, April 10, 2006 - Novartis announced today that it has submitted applications in the

Novartis Files Applications In U.S., Europe For Gleevec For Approval In Four Rare Types Of Cancer

2006-04-10T13:28:00.000+03:00

(RTTNews) - Early Monday, Basel, Switzerland-based health care products company Novartis revealed the filing of applications in the U.S. and Europe for Gleevec tablets to treat four rare types of cancer. The company said these filings emphasize on how cancers of different origin and location can share common pathways that respond to the same targeted treatment. Gleevec has already been approved

Tests from Circulating Blood Can Substitute for Tests from Bone Marrow in CML

2006-04-10T13:25:00.000+03:00

According to an article recently published in the journal Leukemia, a laboratory test called real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) performed on circulating blood may be an appropriate substitute for tests performed on bone marrow samples in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia.Leukemia is a type of hematologic (blood) cancer that originates in the immune cells. There are several different

Dasatinib shows promise for CML patients

2006-04-10T13:23:00.000+03:00

WASHINGTON, April 3 (UPI) -- The drug dasatinib appears to benefit patients with chronic myeloid leukemia who weren't helped by Gleevec. That's the finding released by researchers Monday at the annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research. Doctors from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute focused on imatinib-resistant or intolerant patients with CML in late chronic phase (CP

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Announces Initiation of Phase II Development Program for Aurora Kinase Inhibitor MK-0457 (VX-680)

2006-04-10T13:12:00.000+03:00

Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (Nasdaq: VRTX) today announced the initiationof a Phase II clinical development program for VX-680, an investigationaldrug candidate targeting Aurora kinase. In connection with the initiationof Phase II development, Vertex earned a $10 million milestone payment inMarch 2006 from Merck & Co., Inc. Vertex and Merck have a globalcollaboration to develop and commercialize

AACR: Agent Shows Value in Gleevec-Resistant CML

2006-04-05T12:33:00.000+03:00

ReviewWASHINGTON, Apr. 3 - Dasatinib, a second generation tyrosine kinase inhibitor, can control chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) in patients resistant to Gleevec (imatinib mesylate) therapy, according to data from several phase II studies. The trial results confirm phase 1 data that showed the dual kinase inhibitor, which inhibits both BCR-ABL and Src kinases, was

Researchers Seek Alternative For Leukemia Patients Resistant To Standard Therapies

2006-04-05T12:28:00.000+03:00

A study led by researchers from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute has found that dasatinib provides significant benefit in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients resistant to Gleevec® (imatinib), according to a study presented today during the 97th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research.In an update of a phase I study initiated in November 2003, researchers looked at

FDA Orphan Drug Approvals: Ceflatonin, Valortim, TQ-1018

2006-04-03T09:06:00.000+03:00

Yael WaknineMarch 31, 2006 ? The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved orphan drug status for homoharringtonine in the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia; a human antibody to Bacillus anthracis protective antigen for the treatment of anthrax infection; and a high-concentration topical capsaicin product for the treatment of postherpetic neuralgia.Orphan Drug Homoharringtonine (

Early detection of drug resistance mutations

2006-03-31T10:46:00.000+03:00

Transgenomic reports the publication of a study demonstrating the ability of its Wave System to enable detection of mutations in the BCR-ABL gene that are associated with development of resistance to imatinib therapy in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients. Importantly, in three out of nineteen patients harboring BCR-ABL mutations, the mutations were detectable 1-2 months from the onset of

Contraception Remains Advisable with Imatinib Therapy

2006-03-31T10:45:00.000+03:00

NEW YORK MAR 29, 2006 (Reuters Health) - While conception during treatment with imatinib (Gleevec) may result in normal pregnancies, an increased risk of miscarriage and birth abnormalities cannot be ruled out, clinicians report.Moreover, most patients lose their response to imatinib after treatment interruption, so patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) who are receiving imatinib should

Overcoming Resistance to Imatinib

2006-03-30T10:42:00.000+03:00

By David DouglasNEW YORK MAR 28, 2006 (Reuters Health) - The histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor valproate can, in vitro, enhance the cytotoxicity of the Bcr Abl inhibitor imatinib in resistant cell lines derived from patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), Italian researchers report in the March issue of Cancer.Essential limits of imatinib therapy "are based on the development of imatinib

Coming Soon: Faster, Yet Still Safe, Clinical Trials

2006-03-30T10:10:00.000+03:00

WEDNESDAY, March 29 (HealthDay News) -- In an ideal world, new, effective and safe medications would sail through clinical trials in just a couple of years.But the drug-approval process in this country is far from ideal: In the whole of 2005, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved just 20 new agents, down from 36 approvals the year before.And while everyone wants effective drugs marketed

SGX, Novartis Sign $515M Deal

2006-03-29T12:15:00.000+03:00

SGX Pharmaceuticals shares jumped 23 percent Tuesday after the company entered into a collaborative agreement with Novartis to develop treatments for drug-resistant forms of leukemia, a multiyear deal that could be worth more than $515 million.Novartis will give SGX $25 million as an up-front payment and also buy SGX stock, SGX said Monday. But if SGX reaches certain milestones, the total

Quest Diagnostics Launches the First Tests to Help Doctors Assess Status of Leukemia and Lymphoma in Patients Using Blood Plasma Instead of Bone Marro

2006-03-29T12:14:00.000+03:00

- LEUMETA Cancer Tests Are Less Invasive Than Bone Marrow Biopsies, Providing Doctors With New Tools to More Frequently Assess Disease Progress and Help the Physician Tailor Cancer Therapy to Individual Needs - LYNDHURST, N.J., March 28 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Nearly 1 million Americans who are battling or recovering from leukemia and lymphoma have a powerful new diagnostic tool available as

For the First Time a Molecular Test Proves to be Effective in Measuring the Extent of Remission After Cancer Treatment and the Potential for Relapse

2006-03-29T12:12:00.000+03:00

The molecular test is already saving lives of patients who relapse after bone-marrow or stem-cell transplantation. Researchers now predict that the approach will speed the delivery of promising new therapies to other patients SEATTLE ? Oct. 8, 2003 ?

SGX Pharmaceuticals Announces Strategic Collaboration to Develop and Commercialize BCR-ABL Inhibitors for the Treatment of CML

2006-03-28T10:12:00.000+03:00

- Collaboration Focused on Expanding Treatment Options for Patients With CML - SAN DIEGO, March 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- SGX Pharmaceuticals, Inc.(Nasdaq: SGXP) announced today that it has entered into a license andcollaboration agreement with Novartis focused on the development andcommercialization of BCR-ABL inhibitors for the treatment of drug resistantChronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML).

New Preclinical Research Supports Ceflatonin in Treatment of Acute Myeloid Leukemia

2006-03-24T10:55:00.000+02:00

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA and MENLO PARK, C.A. -- March 23, 2006 -- ChemGenex Pharmaceuticals Limited announced today the publication of pre-clinical research supporting the expansion of its clinical development of Ceflatonin (homoharringtonine) to include treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients in addition to chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) patients.The

New Preclinical Research Supports Ceflatonin(R) in Treatment of Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)

2006-03-23T10:09:00.000+02:00

MELBOURNE, Australia and MENLO PARK, Calif., March 22 /PRNewswire/ --ChemGenex Pharmaceuticals Limited (ASX: CXS and Nasdaq: CXSP) announced todaythe publication of pre-clinical research supporting the expansion of itsclinical development of Ceflatonin to include treatment of acute myeloidleukemia (AML) patients in addition to chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) andmyelodysplastic syndrome (MDS)

FDA Grants Orphan Drug Status To ChemGenex Pharma's Ceflatonin For Treating Chronic Myeloid Leukemia

2006-03-22T10:34:00.000+02:00

RTTNews) - Sunday evening, ChemGenex Pharmaceuticals Limited (CXSP | charts | news | Powerrating), a pharmaceutical development company, revealed that Ceflatonin has been granted Orphan Drug status by US Food and Drug Administration/FDA for the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia or CML. Orphan drug status by FDA is to promote the drugs development for diseases affecting less than

High-Dose Gleevec® and Low-Dose Chemotherapy Effective for Relapsed PH-Positive Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

2006-03-22T10:09:00.000+02:00

According to an article recently published in the journal Leukemia, high doses of Gleevec® (imatinib mesylate) and low-dose chemotherapy appears to be an effective and well tolerated treatment regimen for patients with Philadelphia chromosome positive (PH+) acute lymphoblastic leukemia or chronic myeloid leukemia in blast crisis.Leukemia is a type of hematologic cancer that originates in the

Cell Genesys to Present Data From Two GVAX(R) Cancer Immunotherapy Clinical Trials at 2006 ASCO Annual Meeting

2006-03-22T09:45:00.000+02:00

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., March 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- CellGenesys, Inc. (Nasdaq: CEGE) today announced that its two abstracts have beenaccepted as oral presentations at the 2006 American Society of ClinicalOncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting which will take place in Atlanta, GA onJune 2 -6, 2006. The abstracts to be presented are as follows: -- A dose-escalation trial of GM-CSF-gene

Analysis: Supergen drug tested for MDS

2006-03-22T09:39:00.000+02:00

By STEVE MITCHELLUPI Senior Medical CorrespondentWASHINGTON, March 13 (UPI) -- SuperGen's investigational drug decitabine increases disease-free responses in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome and could become the new standard of therapy for this disorder, say researchers who led a phase 3 study of the agent that was released Monday. The findings, which appear in the online version of the

Hiking adds life for cancer fighters

2006-03-22T09:37:00.000+02:00

By JANE MCMANUSTHE JOURNAL NEWS(Original Publication: March 12, 2006)After a decade spent fighting leukemia, White Plains resident Mike DiFabio just wanted to live without thinking about the disease he had overcome as a child. He didn't want to be heralded as a survivor or held up as a success story.But when his mother and two aunts were diagnosed with various forms of cancer within the course of

2006-03-22T09:19:00.000+02:00

Several small molecule and antibody-based targeted cancer therapies are on the market and others are in the pipeline. Determining how targeted to be, however, is still a challenge.Patrick McGee, Senior EditorTreating cancer with chemotherapeutic drugs has a proven track record and is very effective. Most of these cytotoxic drugs work by impairing mitosis. But they have a "shotgun" effect, so

BMS cancer drug gets FDA priority review

2006-03-22T09:15:00.000+02:00

PRINCETON, N.J., March 7 (UPI) -- Bristol-Myers Squibb said Tuesday the Food and Drug Administration gave priority review to cancer drug dasatinib. The company said the FDA will also review the new drug application for possible accelerated approval, meaning the treatment may be approved within six months, or by June 28, BMS said. BMS is seeking an indication for the compound for the treatment

Long-Term Results of Stem Cell Transplants for CML Reported

2006-03-22T08:57:00.000+02:00

Dr. John Goldman from the United Kingdom has reported the outcomes of patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) in chronic phase receiving stem cell transplants between 1978 and 1998. This data was presented at the Tandem BMT meeting in Honolulu February 16-20, 2006.Allogeneic stem cell transplantation is the only curative treatment for patients with CML. Prior to the development of Gleevec® (

Test Now Available to Detect Resistance to Gleevec® in Chronic Myeloid Leukemia

2006-03-22T08:54:00.000+02:00

Genzyme Corporation has announced that they have just made a test available to the public that can detect whether a patient with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is resistant to treatment with Gleevec® (imatinib mesylate).Gleevec is the standard treatment for patients with newly diagnosed CML. Over 90% of patients respond well to initial treatment with long-term benefit. However, 5-10% ultimately

Acute Graft Versus Host Disease Activity Index Can Be Used to Predict Non-Relapse Mortality: Presented at ASBMT

2006-03-22T08:51:00.000+02:00

By Alan McClellandHONOLULU, HI -- February 21, 2006 -- Researchers have developed an evidence based real-time scoring system for quantitative assessment of acute graft versus host disease (GvHD) activity.According to George McDonald, MD, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, Washington, United States, presented the acute GVHD activity index model at the 2006 Blood and Marrow

Genzyme launches test to monitor Gleevec resistance

2006-03-16T16:50:00.000+02:00

Genzyme Corporation has announced the availability of an important new test to monitor drug resistance in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients who are treated with Gleevec (imatinib mesylate). Despite high response rates to Gleevec, approximately four to five percent of patients who were initially treated successfully will develop resistance during therapy. Genzyme's new BCR-ABL Mutation

New drug showing promise

2006-03-16T16:24:00.000+02:00

By JAN JARVIS STAR-TELEGRAM STAFF WRITER Last summer, Lourdes Cal was tired and short of breath, but she had no idea how close to death she was until blood tests revealed a white cell count five times normal. "My disease was about to go haywire," said Cal, 41 and a Dallas mother of four. "I did not even have time to think about it." Cal has known she has chronic

Advances in treatment of chronic myeloid leukaemia

2006-03-13T17:21:00.001+02:00

The results from five studies highlighting new advances in the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia ( CML ) ? a slow-progressing, malignant bone marrow cancer ? have been presented at the 47th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology." The survival rate for leukemia has improved in the past two decades, thanks to new agents designed to treat patients," said Brian J. Druker, Oregon

NNOVIVE Pharmaceuticals Licenses WT1 Peptide Cancer Immunotherapeutic from Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center

2006-03-13T17:21:00.000+02:00

Vaccine is First WT1 Heteroclitic Peptide Immunotherapeutic to Specifically Target CD4 and CD8 Activation INNOVIVE Pharmaceuticals Inc., a biopharmaceutical company headquartered in Manhattan, announced today that it has licensed worldwide development rights for a WT1 heteroclitic peptide immunotherapeutic from Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York. INNOVIVE

Stem Cell Research - Changing Wishes to Possibilities and Possibilities to Reality

2006-03-13T17:19:00.000+02:00

he first International symposium on Stem cell Research and Therapy was conducted in Chennai, on the 6th of January. The programme was organized by LifeCell , a pioneer in stem cell banking in association with Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute, one of the reputed medical institutions in the country.Dr. Mammen Chandy, a leading hematologist, CMC, Vellore, headed the symposium.