Throwing a Light on New Treatments in Treating Multiple Myeloma
Through the consistent hard work of scientists worldwide in recent decades, we have been able to find and develop solutions or treatments for life-threatening diseases for living beings on the Earth. It is through their constant efforts in the pharmaceuticals and medical field, we have been able to lead a healthy and secured life hoping that we would get the best treatments. With the mission of providing effortless medicare to the India patients, a start-up was initiated in 2015 named Indian Pharma Network to provide the best level of cures to Indian patients.
In this blog, we will be knowing about a deadly disease which is again a form of cancer and its latest treatments that have received approval from US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and what the treatments hold for the patients suffering from the disease.
Multiple Myeloma
Multiple Myeloma is cancer that forms in a type of white blood cell called a plasma cell. It is dangerous to the immune system as it develops in the white blood cells that help fight the infection. If a person is suffering from multiple myeloma, these cells wrongly multiply which leads to excessive protein into bones and blood. It builds up throughout your body and damages your organs.
On growing in numbers, the plasma cells crowd out regular blood cells in the bones and trigger them to eat your bones. Weak areas created by these cells in the bones are known as lytic lesions. As time passes, it gets worst because the cell split out of bone marrow and spread which causes organ damage.
Symptoms
Signs and symptoms of Multiple Myeloma can vary depending upon the stages. When they occur, they can include:
- Bone Pain (Spine or Chest Pain)
- Nausea, Constipation
- Loss of appetite, Confusion in Mind
- Fatigue, Frequent infections
- Excessive Weight Loss, Excessive Thirst and Weakness
Risk Factors
Factors that may increase your risk on multiple myeloma include:
- Increasing Age
- Men have more chances to develop the disease than women.
- Black Community
- Family history of Multiple Myeloma
- Personal history of a monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance.
Above we have had a little overview of the disease, how it increases and what indication it gives before and during the spread. Well, scientists are constantly looking to develop all medical aid to the people. Therefore, they have developed the treatment for this life-threatening disease.
We will now be going to have a look over two medicinal treatments for the Multiple Myeloma which have received approvals from the US. FDA after the positive results from clinical trials.
Digging into New Life-Saving Drug: EMPLICITI (Elotuzumab)
Empliciti (Elotuzumab) is a humanized monoclonal antibody that targets SLAMF7 protein. SLAMF7 is a receptor present on immune cells, including natural killer cells, plasma cells, and specific immune-cell subsets of differentiated cells within the hematopoietic lineage. This drug directly activates natural killer cells through the SLAMF7 pathway and Fc receptors on immune cells which results in the killing of myeloma cells through antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity.
Empliciti has no significant antimyeloma activity when given as a single agent to patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma. The drug has improved response and outcome when combined with other antimyeloma agents.
Manufactured by Bristol-Myers Squibb and AbbVie, the drug is prescription medication can be used in two ways:
- Empliciti can be used in combination with Pomalidomide and Dexamethasone in adults who have received at least two prior treatments.
- Empliciti can also be used in combination with the medicines Revlimid and dexamethasone in patients who have received at least 3 treatments prior to their multiple myeloma treatment.
Taking the New Treatment- Empliciti (Elotuzumab)
Before beginning with the treatment, patients receive dexamethasone, antihistamines, and a fever-reducing agent (acetaminophen) to reduce the risk of infusion reactions. As mentioned above the treatment is given in two combinations. Let’s find out how the process goes on:
- Empliciti in combination with Revlimid and Dexamethasone
In this combination, Empliciti is directly infused into the bloodstream at a dose of 10mg/kg of body weight. Empliciti is given along with Revlimid (an oral pill) and dexamethasone (an oral pill or IV Infusion) once a week for the first two cycles and every 2 cycles thereafter.
- Empliciti in combination with Pomalyst and Dexamethasone
In this combination, Empliciti is directly infused into the bloodstream at a dose of 10mg/kg of body weight for the first two cycles. Beginning with the third cycle, the drug is infused every 4 weeks and the dose is increased to 20mg/kg. Empliciti is given along with Pomalyst (an oral pill) and dexamethasone (an oral pill or IV Infusion) until the disease progresses or until severe reactions occur.
Handling out with Side Effects
- In the clinical study that led to the approval of Empliciti, the most common side effects seen with Empliciti are:
- Fatigue, Diarrhoea, Fever, Chills, High Blood Pressure
- Constipation, Respiratory Problems
- Peripheral Neuropathy, Decreased appetite
- Low WBCs, Low Platelet Counts, Pneumonia
- Fatigue, Low Blood Calcium, Low Heart Rate
For patients who experience a moderate or severe infusion reaction after receiving Empliciti, the infusion is stopped and their symptoms are treated. After symptoms resolve, the infusion may be resumed at a slower rate.
Digging into New Life-Saving Drug: Venetoclax (Venclexta)
Venetoclax is a BCL-2 inhibitor which has recently got approved by the US Food and Drug Administration to treat patients with refracted multiple myeloma. Earlier the drug faced many investigations and was approved for lymphocytic leukemia and was not approved for the multiple myeloma due to many haematological malignancies, but later it has got approvals from the FDA to treat multiple myeloma.
The intrinsic apoptosis pathway is regulated by a balance between antiapoptotic (For example; BCL-2, BCL-XL, BCL-W, myeloid cell leukemia sequence [MCL]-1) and proapoptotic (For Example; BAX, BAK, BIM, BID, NOXA) proteins. Normally, proapoptotic proteins are sequestered by BCL-2, BCL-XL, and/or MCL-1 and are prevented from inducing cell death.
Taking the Treatment
Adhere to all the directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides. You may receive your first dose in a hospital or clinic setting to quickly treat any serious side effects. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose. Follow the following instructions:
- Take Venetoclax with food and water, at the directed time each day.
- Do not crush, chew or break a venetoclax tablet. Swallow it whole.
- If you puke shortly after taking venetoclax, do not take another tablet. Wait until the next day to take your medicine at the scheduled time.
- Drink 6 to 8 glasses of water daily for 2 days before and after your begin treatment to prevent adverse side effects.
- Venetoclax can lower your blood cell counts. Your blood will need to be tested often. Your cancer treatments may be delayed based on the results of these tests.
- Do not stop using venetoclax without consulting your doctor.
- Store tablets in their original container at room temperature, away from moisture and heat. Do not put venetoclax tablets into a daily pillbox.
Handling Out the Side Effects
Well, there are many signs of allergic reactions if you are taking the treatment. It is better if you keep some emergency medical help ready, otherwise, the situation can get out of control. Following are the side effects of Venetoclax:
- Respiratory Problems, Signs of pneumonia- Cough with yellow or green mucus, stabbing chest pain, wheezing
- Low Blood Cell Counts, Fever, Chills, Flu-Like symptoms, Mouth and Skin Sore, Dark-coloured urine, Confusion or weakness
- Muscle Pain, Nausea, Vomiting, Seizure, Diarrhoea
Be it Empliciti or Venetoclax, schedule an appointment for a consultation with the best doctor for the treatment. You can also reach out for the advisors at Indian Pharma Network as they will guide you through the treatment and will help you arrange the medicines for the treatments.
Status of Treatment in India
As these two drugs got approvals from the FDA, they are a God’s gift to the patients suffering from Multiple Myeloma. The treatment of multiple myeloma in the relapsed setting remains challenging, despite recent impressive advances in the management of these patients. It has become important to treat a serious medical condition.
If you want to know more about these two treatments, consult the best organisation for knowing about the drug such as ourselves because we will guide you in all the processes, from reaching out the best physicians to making out the arrangements for your treatments.
Empliciti and Venetoclax are a cold chain medication that needs to protect from direct exposure to light and transported with the utmost care by maintaining the temperature and lighting conditions.
Therefore, we recommend you to choose the best platform such as ourselves to procure life-saving medicines that are not available in India. At Indian Pharma Network, professionals in pharmaceuticals industry can access genuine and guaranteed services for all types of life-saving treatments in India.
Get in touch with of best pharmaceutical consultants at Indian Pharma Network as we will assist you with the best advice and any medication that you need from any part of the globe.
Visit: https://indianpharmanetwork.co.in/
Or
Call Mr Neeraj Nagpal on 9811747774
Reference Links:
- https://www.empliciti.com/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5013854/
- https://www.healthline.com/health/cancer/multiple-myeloma-outlook#caregiver-support
- https://ashpublications.org/blood/article/130/22/2401/36573/Efficacy-of-venetoclax-as-targeted-therapy-for
- https://www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-safety-and-availability/fda-warns-about-risks-associated-investigational-use-venclexta-multiple-myeloma#:~:text=Venclexta%20is%20safe%20and%20effective,these%20trials%20after%20they%20reconsent.
- https://www.uofmhealth.org/health-library/d08429a1#:~:text=Venetoclax%20is%20used%20to%20treat,to%20treat%20acute%20myeloid%20leukemia.
