Including Panobinostat Improves PFS in Multiple Myeloma

The addition of panobinostat to bortezomib and dexamethasone significantly extended PFS among patients with relapsed or relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma, according to results of the randomized phase 3 PANORAMA1 trial.

Preclinical studies showed panobinostat (LBH589, Novartis) — an oral pan-deacetylase inhibitor — has anti-myeloma activity when combined with bortezomib (Velcade, Millennium) and dexamethasone.

In the current study, Jesús F. San-Miguel, MD, PhD, head of the department of hematology at the University Hospital of Salamanca in Spain, and colleagues sought to compare bortezomib, dexamethasone and panobinostat with bortezomib, dexamethasone and placebo.

The analysis included 768 patients (median age, 63 years) with relapsed or relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma. About half of patients (48%) had received two or three prior regimens, and 57% had undergone prior autologous stem cell transplant.

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