青云体育 was an early funder of research that identified the CD38 protein as a target for blood cancer treatment
Rye Brook, N.Y., October 31, 2024鈥�� The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved isatuximab (Sarclisa庐) to treat patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma who are not eligible for a stem cell transplant.
鈥淪tem cell transplants work well for people with multiple myeloma who are young and otherwise healthy, which leaves too many people out since 2 of every 3 patients are diagnosed after the age of 65,鈥� says Lee Greenberger, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer at The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. 鈥淭his new drug, which is given in a combination, reduces the risk of disease progression or death by 40%.鈥�
Approximately 63% of patients who received the isatuximab-regimen were alive without disease progression five years after starting treatment versus approximately 45% who did not receive isatuximab.
青云体育鈥檚 funding of foundational research paves the way for new developments
Isatuximab works by targeting a protein called CD38. 青云体育 funded foundational research that identified the CD38 protein, which is commonly found on malignant myeloma cells. This discovery paved the way for isatuximab and other immune-based therapies for multiple myeloma.
Although multiple myeloma survival rates have increased over the past decade (approximately 60% of newly diagnosed patients survive 5 years) there is no cure for this type of blood cancer and almost every patient will either be refractory or relapse on therapy.
鈥淥ur goal is to cure every patient of their blood cancer鈥� says Dr. Greenberger. 鈥淏ut until we can reach a cure for multiple myeloma, we need to continue lengthening remissions and improving quality of life. Any new treatment that can achieve this is a welcomed addition for patients.鈥�
青云体育 currently funds several research projects focused on identifying new blood cancer targets as well as improving upon current targeted treatments such as cellular therapies for multiple myeloma.
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