The 61st ASH Annual Meeting and Exposition is over. I’m home in Idaho now, and missing the warm sunshine of Orlando. And the warm and friendly camaraderie of the International Myeloma Foundation’s team of support group leaders. I saw many things that amazed me during my first experience at #ASH19. Thousands of people all trying […]

Immunotherapy was front and center at this year’s American Society of Hematology’s (ASH) meeting. There even was an Education Session presented by Drs. Shah, Cohen and Borello on this topic. When I first attended the ASH Annual Meeting in 2012, immunotherapy was still in its infancy. The treatments that were being examined in clinical trials back […]

Each year at the American Society of Hematology (ASH) meetings, the International Myeloma Foundation (IMF) presents a program entitled “Living Well with Myeloma and the 2020 Brian D. Novis Grant Awards Reception.”  In 1995 the IMF established the Brian D. Novis Research Grant program in memory of its co-founder. The grants are awarded annually to promote […]

One of the late-breaking abstracts presented by Dr. Saad Usamani compared Kyprodlis and dexamethason (Kd) with Kd and daratumumab. There were many trial results that were presented at ASH that showed Dara makes many drugs better. Combining Dara with KRd seems to result in an “unprecedented” level of response and MRD negative response for newly […]

The days of ASH are filled with oral abstracts, posters, education, and scientific sessions—some of which are even simultaneous sessions. It’s a challenge to be everywhere, and I’m thankful that Dr. Durie provides the leaders with his suggestions on what would be most valuable for us to attend. Program for the “Living Well with Myeloma” […]

The entryway at #ASH19 Each ASH annual meeting has its own ‘flavor’ and emphasis regarding myeloma. I’ve been to several and remember the excitement of ASH2015 after our unprecedented elotuzumab, daratumumab, Ninlaro, “November to Remember.” Last year the emphasis was on early immunotherapy with BiTEs, CAR-T, and ADCs (antibody drug conjugates). This year ASH2019 was […]

In the words of Mark Twain, “It’s not the size of the dog in the fight but fight in the dog.” We are often so consumed by our bad feelings that we don’t have the energy to deal with the issues that accompany us on our myeloma journey.  When listening to the speakers at the […]

Before presenting my ASH summary, I’ll mention a late-breaking abstract presentation that I was unable to attend early Tuesday morning describing a phase III trial called Candor for relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma patients (RRMM), comparing (Kyprolis) carfilzomib and dexamethasone with or without Darzalex (daratumumab). The abstract #LBA-6 showed that the addition of dara decreased the risk […]

I’ll admit I was a little starstruck at ASH. The top myeloma specialists were gathered in one place, walking the same corridors as me…sitting in the same abstract presentations as me.  And having some of the same questions as I did about the research being presented. I was used to being at patient seminars or my […]

Daratumumab (dara), trade name Darzalex, received breakthrough therapy drug status in 2013 for multiple myeloma. Daratumumab is a monoclonal antibody directed against CD38, a molecule present on myeloma cells. Since it’s inception, it has taken the myeloma world by storm. In late 2015 daratumumab was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treatment of […]