Celgene says survival edge found in Revlimid study
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NEW YORK, April 4 (Reuters) - Celgene Corp. (CELG.O) said on Wednesday that a review of early results from a large blood-cancer study found its Revlimid, used with a low dose of a steroid, had a survival benefit when compared with using it with a higher, standard dose of the steroid.
The study involved patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma. Revlimid is currently approved as a treatment in combination with a standard dose of the steroid dexamethasone for patients with multiple myeloma who have received at least one prior therapy.
Full results from the trial are expected to be presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology in June.
Revlimid last month won a positive opinion from European regulators for use in combination with dexamethasone as a multiple myeloma treatment for patients who have received at least one earlier therapy.
Revlimid is a successor to Celgene's drug Thalomid, currently the leading treatment for multiple myeloma. Thalomid plus dexamethasone is typically the first choice of treatment for newly-diagnosed patients ahead of a stem cell transplant.
Investigators have suspected that Revlimid in combination with dexamethasone will prove more effective than the Thalomid regime, cause fewer side effects and become the standard of care for patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma.
Celgene shares rose 87 cents, or 1.6 percent, to $56.50 in early electronic trading from a Tuesday close of $55.63 on the Nasdaq.
((Reporting by Lewis Krauskopf; editing by Dave Zimmerman; Reuters Messaging: Lewis.Krauskopf.reuters.com@reuters.net; lewis.krauskopf@reuters.com; 646-223-6082)) Keywords: CELGENE/REVLIMID
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