Is Velcade-MP effective in previously untreated myeloma?
Velcade is FDA approved for use as a therapy for newly diagnosed or previously untreated patients, often referred to as “frontline” or “upfront” therapy. The approval was based on the results of the large Phase III VISTA clinical trial, which evaluated Velcade in combination with melphalan and prednisone (MP), a frontline therapy commonly used in patients who are ineligible for a stem cell transplant. • Data from the VISTA trial show that adding Velcade to MP significantly extends the length of time before disease progresses, the length of time a patient remains disease-free following treatment, and improves complete response rates and overall survival compared with patients treated with MP alone. • A complete response rate of 30% was seen with patients receiving Velcade-MP compared with 4% seen with those receiving MP alone. • There was a 36% reduction in risk of death at 3 years when Velcade was added. • Velcade-MP was consistently effective in patients with poor prognostic features
