New Data Support High Complete Remission Rates With VELCADE(R) (Bortezomib) for Injection Based Therapies in Patients With Newly Diagnosed Multip...( - Five Oral Presentations at ASCO An...),Health

- Five Oral Presentations at ASCO Annual Meeting Will Further Demonstrate the Strength of VELCADE Combinations in Front-line Multiple Myeloma -

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., May 16 /PRNewswire/ -- Millennium Pharmaceuticals, The Takeda Oncology Company, today announced that new data from VELCADE clinical studies are scheduled to be featured at the 2008 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting in Chicago, Illinois, May 30 - June 3, 2008. The data will highlight the significant efficacy of multiple VELCADE based therapies in patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (MM).

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The Company submitted a supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in December 2007 for the use of VELCADE to treat patients with newly diagnosed MM. The filing is based on data from the landmark Phase III VISTA trial. The FDA granted the sNDA priority review and a decision is expected by June 20, 2008. VELCADE is currently the market leader in relapsed multiple myeloma and the only drug approved for the treatment of relapsed mantle cell lymphoma.

"VELCADE based therapies continue to demonstrate unprecedented complete remission rates and survival benefits for patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma," said Nancy Simonian, M.D., Chief Medical Officer, Millennium. "Data to be presented at ASCO are expected to support that deep and durable complete remissions are an important indicator for long-term patient outcomes. The continued strength of clinical trial data, combined with the pending FDA approval, will further solidify VELCADE as a key component of the standard of care for this disease."

Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma

Data to be featured at ASCO include the use of VELCADE in both newly diagnosed transplant and non-transplant MM patients. The da
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