What type of therapy is pomalidomide?

Pomalidomide is an antineoplastic (cancer medicine). Pomalidomide is used to treat AIDS-related Kaposi sarcoma in patients who have received highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) that did not work well. This medicine is also used to treat Kaposi sarcoma in patients who do not have HIV infection (HIV-negative).

What is lenalidomide maintenance?

Lenalidomide is an immunomodulatory drug approved for maintenance treatment in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma, and it has been shown to improve progression-free survival (PFS) and, in several studies, overall survival.

When do you start lenalidomide maintenance?

The timing of starting maintenance therapy following ASCT and starting dose of lenalidomide was based on routine current practices. Typically, patients were recommended to start lenalidomide 2–4 months after ASCT at an initial daily dose of 10–15 mg.

Is pomalidomide better than lenalidomide?

Pomalidomide is felt to be the most potent IMiD: 100 times strength of thalidomide and 10 times that of lenalidomide [Gertz, 2013]. Cereblon expression by gene expression profiling was recently evaluated in 53 patients with relapsed/refractory MM treated with pomalidomide and dexamethasone [Schuster et al. 2012].

How is pomalidomide administered?

Pomalidomide should be administered on an empty stomach (at least 2 hours before or 2 hours after a meal). Missed doses may be administered if within 12 hours of the usual dosing time of pomalidomide.

Is pomalidomide a chemo drug?

Pomalidomide is the generic name for the trade name chemotherapy drug Pomalyst®. In some cases, health care professionals may use the trade name Pomalyst® when referring to the generic drug pomalidomide.

How long is maintenance therapy for multiple myeloma?

There is some debate about the optimal length of maintenance therapy in today’s myeloma world. Most European doctors will have a fixed duration (2-3 years) of maintenance therapy but that could be related to approvals by European regulatory agencies. Most US doctors suggest “until disease progression”.

How long is maintenance treatment for multiple myeloma?

Most US doctors suggest “until disease progression” based on a study showing the duration of survival without myeloma progression was 38.9 months for Revlimid maintenance compared to 20 months for no maintenance therapy.

How long can you stay on REVLIMID?

Results showed that patients receiving Revlimid lived 39 months without their disease worsening, compared with 20 months for the observation arm. This translated into a 54% reduction in the risk of disease progression or death.

What is the cost of pomalidomide?

The cost for Pomalyst oral capsule 1 mg is around $20,983 for a supply of 21 capsules, depending on the pharmacy you visit. Prices are for cash paying customers only and are not valid with insurance plans. Pomalyst is available as a brand name drug only, a generic version is not yet available.

Is pomalidomide a chemotherapy?

What are the uses of pomalidomide?

Pomalidomide 1 Use in Cancer. Multiple myeloma. 2 More About Pomalidomide. Definition from the NCI Drug Dictionary – Detailed scientific definition and other names for this drug. 3 Research Results and Related Resources 4 Clinical Trials Accepting Patients.

Is there a clinical trial for pomalidomide?

As a condition of approval, confirmatory trial (s) must show that pomalidomide provides a clinical benefit in these patients. ). Pomalidomide is also being studied in the treatment of other types of cancer. Definition from the NCI Drug Dictionary – Detailed scientific definition and other names for this drug.

Does thalidomide maintenance therapy improve survival in multiple myeloma patients?

Studies that have evaluated thalidomide or lenalidomide maintenance therapy have demonstrated an overall survival (OS) benefit in individuals with multiple myeloma who received high-dose chemotherapy followed by stem cell transplantation. A meta-analysis of thalidomide maintenance therapy did show a possible late survival benefit.