Results from a Phase II study, recently published in Leukaemia, show that the oral combination of ixazomib (Ninlaro®), pomalidomide (Imnovid®) and dexamethasone is effective in relapsed and refractory myeloma patients. All patients in this study were refractory to lenalidomide (Revlimid®).
48% of patients who received the recommended dose of ixazomib (4mg) achieved a partial response or better, with 20% of these patients achieving a very good partial response (VGPR) and 76% achieving stable disease or better. The most common side-effects in this trial were anaemia, neutropenia, thrombocytopenia and infections.
Ixazomib was recently recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) in combination with lenalidomide and dexamethasone for myeloma patients who have received 2 or 3 prior treatments. This treatment is only available to patients in England and Wales through the Cancer Drugs Fund (CDF).