Johnson and Johnson presents Doxil/Velcade interim analysis

Johnson & Johnson has presented its interim analysis investigating a combination of Doxil (doxorubicin HCl lipsome injection) and Velcade (bortezomib) to the 48th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Haematology.

The company reports that the combination of the two drugs for patients with relapsed or refactory multiple myeloma resulted in a three-month improvement in time to disease progression (TTP) when compared with treatment solely with Velcade.

A combination treatment of Doxil and Velcade resulted in a 45 per cent lower risk of disease progression and improved median TTP.

Doxil is currently indicated for the treatment of progressed or recurrent ovarian cancer following platinum-based chemotherapy. Velcade is the market leader in the treatment of relapsed multiple myeloma.

Robert Z Orlowski of the University of North Carolina, said that this trial suggested that the drug combination could improve the prognosis for resistant multiple myeloma patients.

“It confirms the preclinical model demonstrating that this novel combination that this combination works synergistically to more effectively eradicate plasma cells.”

He added that it is “highly rewarding” when scientific models investigating the possibility of improved treatments results in genuine advances in therapy.

Last week, Johnson and Johnson reported the results of an investigational study showing that patients administered with Procrit (Epoetin alfa) once every three weeks may increase haemoglobin levels in patients with non-myeloid malignancies.