Clinical Development > Multiple Myeloma

Approximately 19,900 new cases of myeloma will be diagnosed in the United States every year, and approximately 50,000 Americans are currently living with myeloma. World-wide, over 150,000 people are currently afflicted with the disease. Newly diagnosed patients have treatment options that include combination chemotherapeutic agents and stem cell transplantation. Although many patients respond to treatment, most eventually relapse and require subsequent treatment, few patients are ultimately cured of their disease.

Proteolix is currently testing carfilzomib (PR-171), a new intravenously administered proteasome inhibitor, in patients with multiple myeloma patients in a phase1 trial and two phase 2 trials. The phase 1 trial is a dose-escalation study in patients with relapsed or refractory disease. This clinical study is currently assessing the safety and toxicity of the maximum tolerated dose of carfilzomib with and without dexamethasone, a steroid compound. The first phase 2 trial is enrolling multiple myeloma patients who have received prior bortezomib and either lenalidomide or thalidomide and are refractory to their last treatment. The second phase 2 trial is enrolling patients who have received 1-3 prior therapies and patients will be assessed according to whether they have received and responded to bortezomib.

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