Takeda and Millennium to present Velcade data at ASH conference

Takeda and its oncology-focused subsidiary Millennium will be showcasing new data on cancer compounds including Velcade at a forthcoming medical conference.

The companies will be attending the American Society of Hematology (ASH) annual meeting in San Diego next month to present 32 abstracts, pertaining to six molecules from Millennium's developmental pipeline.

Presentations on Velcade will include results from the phase III Vista trial, which has assessed the efficacy of the drug in delivering improved survival rates among previously untreated multiple myeloma patients.

Dr Karen Ferrante, chief medical officer at Millennium, said: "Data being presented at this year's meeting add to the growing body of evidence that supports the use of Velcade in a wide variety of settings."

Further data will outline the progress of early-stage compounds such as MLN8237 and MLN9708, the first oral proteasome inhibitor being studied in cancer patients.

This comes a month after Takeda expanded the scope of its business further following the completion of its acquisition of Nycomed.