Celgene is discontinuing Revlimid Phase III ORIGIN Trial

[AussieNeil]

Celgene said that an imbalance was observed in the number of deaths in patients treated with Lenalidomide versus patients treated with Chlorambucil.

This was a big trial for patients over 65; 450 patients in over 100 sites in 26 countries, but there were almost double the number of deaths in the Lenalidomide arm; 34 compared with 18.

Details:

rttnews.com/2153463/celgene...

Trial details:

clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT...

Revlimid (lenalidomide) is a derivative of thalidomide introduced in 2004

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lenal...

Is anyone here on this trial?

Neil

[Cllcanada Top Poster CURE Hero]

Here is Celgene's press release...

Celgene Will Discontinue Phase III ORIGIN® Trial in Previously Untreated Elderly Patients with B-Cell Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

newsroom.celgene.com/press-...

[AussieNeil Partner Administrator]

Brian Koffman comments about this unexpected development on his blog:

bkoffman.blogspot.com.au/

As Dr Koffman says, " We have begun to crack the biology on B cell receptors pathways and BCL-2, but what exactly Revlimid is doing is murky.

And usually our best results usually come when we have nailed the underlying basic science. Some drugs have come to us in the past from plain dumb luck, but most of the breakthrough(s) today are based on meticulous pre-clinical basic research."

Thalidomide is a very old drug.

Neil