Cancer Treatment Today

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted approval for Ninlaro (ixazomib) in combination with two other therapies to treat people with multiple myeloma who have received at least one prior therapy. Ninlaro is the first oral proteasome inhibitor and is approved in combination with another FDA-approved treatment for multiple myeloma called Revlimid (lenalidomide) and dexamethasone (a type of corticosteroid). A recent study found that the combination of ixazomib and pomalidomide is very effective. Among 20 evaluable patients, one patient achieved a very good partial response and 10 other patients achieved an objective partial response and another three patients achieved disease stabilization. Six of the patients progressed.

In a similar study of Ninlaro with cyclophosphamide, there was also significant effectiveness.

Ixazomide in combination with lenalidomide and dexamethasone, significantly extends progression-free survival for patients with relapsed and/or refractory multiple myeloma: The phase 3 Tourmaline-MM1 study. 2015 ASH Annual Meeting. Abstract 727. Presented December 7, 2015.

Dimopoulos MA, Grosicki S, Jedrzejczak WW, et al: Randomized phase 2 study of the all-oral combination of investigational proteasome inhibitor ixazomib plus cyclophosphamide and low-dose dexamethasone in patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma who are transplant-ineligible. 2015 ASH Annual Meeting. Abstract 26. Presented December 5, 2015.
Voorhees PM, Mulkey F, Hassoun H, et al: Alliance A061202, a phase I/II study of pomalidomide, dexamethasone and ixazomib versus pomlidomide and dexamethasone for patients with multiple myeloma refractory to lenalidomide and proteasome inhibitor based therapy: Phase I results. 2015 ASH Annual Meeting. Abstract 375. Presented December 6, 2015.