International Myeloma Foundation Brings Together 100 of the World's Top Myeloma Experts June 7-9, 2016 in Copenhagen for 7th Annual Summit

NORTH HOLLYWOOD, Calif., June 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The International Myeloma Foundation (IMF) – improving the quality of life of myeloma patients while working toward prevention and a cure – will host the 7^th Annual International Myeloma Working Group (IMWG) Summit June 7-9 in Copenhagen, Denmark. Nearly 100 of the world's top myeloma experts will attend the 2016 Summit, which convenes on the eve of the annual Congress of the European Hematology Association (EHA).  A key focus at the Summit will be the creation of IMWG guidelines to address the rising cost of myeloma drugs.

"The IMWG Summit provides the opportunity for us to evaluate the latest developments in myeloma research and treatment, and come to a consensus on how best to incorporate these advances into recommendations for improving treatment for myeloma patients globally," said Dr. Brian G.M. Durie, IMF Chairman and Co-founder, and IMWG Chairman.  

Highly anticipated new research will be discussed and debated at the 2016 IMWG Summit. Issues surrounding myeloma treatment, clinical trial design, and patient quality of life will be tackled. In addition, investigators from the IMF's Black Swan Research Initiative^® (BSRI) team will meet to determine the next steps forward in the IMF's effort to find the pathway to cure myeloma.

Patients, caregivers, and doctors around the world can be among the first to glean insights into the latest myeloma research and treatment by watching a live-stream broadcast from the Summit on Thursday, June 9. On the IMF's popular IMWG Conference Series, "Making Sense of Treatment," a panel of international myeloma experts—Drs. Brian Durie, Maria-Victoria Mateos, Joseph Mikhael, and Paul Richardson—will distill, debate, and discuss what they learned at the Summit during a 90-minute webcast, which starts at 7:30 am ET. (The live and archived webcast can be found HERE.)

Additional highlights of the IMWG Summit include:

• The presentation of the IMF's 14^th Annual Robert A. Kyle Lifetime Achievement Award to Dr. S. Vincent Rajkumar, the Edward W. and Betty Knight Scripps Professor of Medicine at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. The award honors an individual whose body of work has made significant contributions to myeloma research and patient care.
• A meeting of the IMF Global Myeloma Action Network (GMAN), which brings together 30 myeloma patient groups from around the world to raise global awareness of myeloma, improve patient outcomes, and ensure access to life-saving treatments.

"The IMF is proud to lead this unprecedented collaborative event that brings together the world's experts in myeloma to advance treatment and research that will lead to a cure," said IMF President Susie Novis Durie.

Co-chairing the 2016 IMWG Summit are Dr. Brian Durie and Dr. Rajkumar. Both serve on the IMWG organizing committee along with Dr. Jesús San Miguel, Dr. Antonio Palumbo, and Dr. Philippe Moreau. Session chairs are Drs. Moreau, Palumbo, Paul Richardson, Thanos Dimopoulos, Hartmut Goldschmidt, and Ola Landgren.

ABOUT THE INTERNATIONAL MYELOMA FOUNDATION
Celebrating its 25^th anniversary, the International Myeloma Foundation (IMF) is the oldest and largest foundation focusing specifically on multiple myeloma. The Foundation's reach extends to more than 400,000 members in 140 countries worldwide. The IMF is dedicated to improving the quality of life of myeloma patients while working toward prevention and a cure by focusing on four key areas: research, education, support, and advocacy. The IMF has conducted more than 250 educational seminars worldwide, maintains a world-renowned InfoLine, and in 2001, established the International Myeloma Working Group (IMWG), a collaborative research initiative focused on improving myeloma treatment options for patients. In 2013, the IMF launched the Black Swan Research Initiative^®, a groundbreaking research project aimed at curing myeloma. The IMF can be reached at (800) 452-CURE (2873). The global website is www.myeloma.org. Follow the IMF on Twitter @IMFmyeloma.

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SOURCE The International Myeloma Foundation

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