This Just In

The Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF - www.themmrf.org) just shared a press release about a new medication available from Glaxo Smith Kline (GSK).

Today, we announce the exciting news of the FDA approval of a new drug: Blenrep. This marks the third new drug approval in myeloma in just over a year!   

This is significant for a number of reasons - obvious and otherwise.  On one hand, the new therapy (Blenrep - who comes up with these names, anyway?!) offers yet another treatment option for relapsed (comes back after remission - sooner than expected) / refractory (limited or no response to treatment) PATIENTS with Multiple Myeloma. 

But from a bigger-picture point of view, it reaffirms the knowledge that the pursuit of chemo therapies is a never-ending exploration.  The search continues for more and better ways to attack MM; greater efficacy, more tolerability, and a potential cure somewhere down the line.  I guess it’s obvious to imagine that this process is ongoing, but seeing positive results in this direction reminds me that someone is out there really working on this, that advancement is happening everyday (keeping in mind that the development of this drug may have begun more than 10 years ago), and that the “pipeline” of new drugs is rich with potential and breakthroughs every day.

The struggle of cancer research is going on all around us - often unseen and unheralded over its sometimes decade-long duration.  The road is littered with failed attempts, unfulfilled expectations, enthusiastic partnerships, dreams of serendipity, and countless hours chasing possibilities.  But the periodic announcement of another new therapy encourages the embers of hope and fuels the flames of faith for a cure that addresses "your" cancer - or other disease issues (like Covid-19).

The current roster of treatments is beyond comprehension (especially for us patients), and the future promises to bring more options with better efficacy, easier dosing and more manageable tolerability - science is working on it day and night.