Combination of multiple myeloma diagnostics finds lenalidomide benefit

ROTTERDAM (the Netherlands) and SAN DIEGO (US), September 12, 2019: fast-progressing multiple myeloma (blood cancer) patients of 65 years and older that won’t undergo a stem cell transplantation live 42 months longer when treated with the option of an MPR-R regime (melphalan, prednisone and lenalidomide induction therapy, followed by lenalidomide maintenance). The median survival of these patients was 55 months. The second group of patients with the same characteristics was treated with an MPT-T (thalidomide instead of lenalidomide) regime and lived for 13 months (median survival). These fast-progressing or high-risk patients can only be determined by combining the applied diagnostic method R-ISS (Revised International Staging System) with the innovative SKY92 diagnostic test. The SKY92 test adds specific genetic information from the blood cancer cells [3]. Furthermore, the MPR-R treated patients showed a significantly lower grade of neuropathy, a dysfunction of nerves that can affect the quality of life [2].

“Although these findings require independent validation, I am very pleased to see that this subgroup of multiple myeloma patients can have a longer life in better health”, says Dharminder Chahal, CEO SkylineDx that developed the SKY92 test. “Evidence to start or withhold therapy is especially needed for the elderly patients as side effects of treatment might be more pronounced and could be irreversible”. The results are derived from the HOVON-87/NMSG-18 trial where no improved outlook could be found between the two regimes, looking at the patient population as a whole group [2]. “That is what personalized medicine is all about, to use a combination of characteristics and diagnostic tools to find the right subgroup of patients that do significantly benefit from a specific treatment strategy. This is another step closer to predictive tests”. These findings will be presented during the 17^th International Myeloma Workshop (IMW) 2019 in Boston [3].

Evidence that the SKY92 diagnostic test can accurately find fast-progressing, high-risk patients has been demonstrated in the analysis of 2,939 individual cases, covering 15 independent trials representing patients and treatments across countries. In reality, only 30-40% of all multiple myeloma patients will enter a clinical trial as they have been preselected on specific characteristics to be eligible for a clinical trial. Therefore, it is important to have evidence that the SKY92 accurately lives up to its promise in ‘real-world’ or ‘non-trial’ setting. The first results of this analysis in true clinical practice are very convincing and will be presented at IMW 2019 [4].

About SkylineDx

SkylineDx is a high-tech commercial-stage biotech company headquartered in Rotterdam, the Netherlands and a commercial office and CAP/CLIA certified laboratory in San Diego, California, USA. The company uses its expertise to bridge the gap between academically discovered gene expression signatures and commercially available diagnostic products with high clinical utility. With the focus on diagnostics, SkylineDx assists healthcare professionals in accurately determining the type or status of the disease or to predict a patient’s response to a specific treatment. Based on the test results, healthcare professionals can tailor the treatment to the individual patient. To learn more, please visit www.skylinedx.com.

Footnotes:

1. Link to press release on website SkylineDx (click here).

2. Kuiper, et al. 2019. EHA Abstract PS1374 (link).

3. Kuiper, et al. 2019. IMW Abstract OAB-013 (link, p. 15-16). Oral presentation (AB710) on Friday September 13^th at 11:45AM in Veterans Auditorium during the 17^th International Myeloma Workshop in Hynes Convention Center Boston, MA, USA.

4. Chen, et al. 2019. IMW Abstract FP-009 (link, p. 93-94). Poster presentation on Friday September 13^th 6:30-8PM in Hynes Auditorium during the 17^th International Myeloma Workshop in Hynes Convention Center Boston, MA, USA.