GLG News by Hematologists who Treat Lymphoma

Vaccination with EGF was used in a maintenance situation after initial chemo. No only did it produce EGF antibodies BUT the antibody response was correlated with survival!!

Revlimid has significant activity in non Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL)as well as chronic lymphatic leukemia (CLL) although why is somewhat unclear.

Avastin, an antiangiogenic agent used in cancer and other disorders, may have more side effects than originally recognized including proteinuria as well as kidney damage.

Pharma recommends more drug than may actually be needed. This does not apply just to Cerezyme, but the Epo products (Amgen & J&J), Avastin (Genentech.)

Prison terms to be handed out for fraud by a health care financing firm. Go figure?

This is an agent, approved for use with restrictions, in ITP.

Epo products (Aranesp, Procrit, Epogen) from Amgen and J & J will be restricted to some degree with control of hemoglobin levels, NO use in curable malignancies ..." the panel voted 11 to 2 in recommending that the drugs not be used in cancer patients who are likely to be cured from their...

FDA panel recommned approval of Amgen's Nplate for patients with refractory/recurrent chronic ITP who have failed other therapies like steroids, immunoglobulins, Rituximab and spleenectomy. The safety/efficacy profile was favorable for this relatively narrow indication, although long term safet issues...

An FDA panel recommended NOT to use ESA's for treatment of chemotherapy induced anemia in Breast cancer patients and head and neck acncer patients, a significant number of cancer patients. It also voted overwhelmingly to limit ESA's for non-curable cancer patients in the setting of palliative care....

Manufacturers include Roche Holding AG and Novartis AG of Switzerland and Sanofi-Aventis. Generic versions of the antineoplastic agents will be made available and the patents obviously ignored.