Millennium Initiates Clinical Trial to EVOLVE the Treatment of Patients with Newly Diagnosed Multip...( -- U.S.-based trial to evaluate four...),Health

-- U.S.-based trial to evaluate four-drug therapy containing highly active

and novel multiple myeloma agents --

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Aug. 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: MLNM) today announced the initiation of a randomized, multi-center, Company-sponsored Phase II trial to evaluate the efficacy of combining VELCADE(R) (bortezomib) for Injection, lenalidomide / dexamethasone and cyclophosphamide in the front-line multiple myeloma (MM) setting. The trial, named EVOLUTION(1), will combine the highly active and noveltherapies of VELCADE and lenalidomide / dexamethasone and also explore the incremental benefit of cyclophosphamide, an alkylating agent, which in previous studies has shown synergistic activity with VELCADE.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/19991220/MLNMLOGO )

"The objective of this trial is to evolve the treatment of multiple myeloma by combining these highly active therapies to induce early complete remission and improve long-term survival," said Nancy Simonian, M.D., Chief Medical Officer, Millennium. "We are exploring the potential of a new standard of care for patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma."

The EVOLUTION trial builds on positive results from previous studies of VELCADE in combination with these agents, showing some of the highest reported complete remission rates. This trial is expected to enroll approximately 100 patients, who will be randomized to either VELCADE, lenalidomide / dexamethasone or VELCADE, lenalidomide / dexamethasone and cyclophosphamide. The primary endpoint of the trial is complete response and very
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SOURCE Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Copyright©2007 PR Newswire.

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