Merck & Co's vorinostat shows early efficacy in MM

Results from a Phase I study presented at the 14th annual meeting of the European Hematology Association in Berlin, Germany, demonstrate that US  drug major Merck & Co's vorinostat plus Celgene's Revlimid  (lenalidomide) and dexamethasone, is well tolerated and clinically  active in patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma.

The study was primarily designed to determine the maximum tolerated dose  of the regimen containing Merck's oral histone deacetylase inhibitor.  "These findings provide additional early evidence of the potential of  vorinostat in patients with advanced multiple myeloma, a devastating  disease that frequently relapses," said David Siegel, chief of the  Division of Multiple Myeloma at Hackensack University Medical Center.

Seventeen of the 21 patients enrolled in the trial to date were eligible  for evaluation of response, as measured by European Blood and Marrow  Transplantation Group criteria. Of these patients, 13(76%) experienced a  clinical benefit on treatment, including one complete response, six  partial responses, three minimal responses and three instances of stable  disease.