AbbVie and the International Myeloma Foundation Announce Partnership to Study the Role of a Genetic Mutation in Outcomes of Patients with Multiple Myeloma

NORTH CHICAGO, Ill. and NORTH HOLLYWOOD, Calif., March 21, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- AbbVie (NYSE: ABBV), a research and development-based global biopharmaceutical company, and the International Myeloma Foundation (IMF) today announced they have entered into a collaboration to conduct a landmark retrospective chart review study to better understand and help manage multiple myeloma (MM), the second most common blood cancer.¹

"There are significant knowledge gaps about multiple myeloma, and among these gaps is the role of genetic mutations in response to treatment, and the related outcomes for patients," said Brian G.M. Durie, M.D., IMF chairman. "This study has the potential to provide valuable real-world evidence that can help advance care for patients, and we are proud to join forces with AbbVie to further advance efforts in research and education in multiple myeloma."

The primary objective of the study is to determine the overall survival of patients with MM and the t(11;14) translocation, which is present in an estimated 16 to 24 percent of FISH-tested MM cases.^2,3 IMF researchers from at least 30 participating sites across the world will retrospectively review and characterize the outcomes of 1,500 patients with the t(11;14) translocation identified on FISH, making this study one of the largest and most comprehensive MM studies to date. Secondary objectives include response rates, progression-free survival, time to progression, time to next treatment, duration of responses and overall survival with different regimens among patients with the t(11;14) translocation. Additional secondary objectives include determining prognostic factors for overall survival among MM patients with t(11;14) translocation and to identify the spectrum of co-existing genetic abnormalities among this patient population.  

"The partnership with the International Myeloma Foundation underscores our commitment to meaningfully advance the understanding of blood cancers, and continue identifying scientific approaches that have the potential to improve care for patients with multiple myeloma," said Neil Gallagher, M.D., Ph.D., vice president and head, global oncology development, AbbVie. "We look forward to the findings and to continue strengthening our ongoing research efforts to provide transformative therapies for patients with multiple myeloma and other blood cancers."

About Multiple Myeloma
Multiple myeloma (MM) begins in the plasma cells in bone marrow. When plasma cells (a type of white blood cell) in the marrow become cancerous, they can grow uncontrollably and produce abnormal proteins (sometimes known as M proteins) and may also cause tumors, typically developing in the bone. When a patient has multiple plasma cell tumors, they have MM.⁴ An estimated 86,000 patients with MM are diagnosed globally each year.⁵ Approximate median survival ranges from 29 months to 62 months depending on stage at diagnosis.⁶

About the International Myeloma Foundation
Founded in 1990, the International Myeloma Foundation (IMF) is the first and largest foundation focusing specifically on multiple myeloma. The Foundation's reach extends to more than 525,000 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 2012, 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.

About AbbVie in Oncology
At AbbVie, we strive to discover and develop medicines that deliver transformational improvements in cancer treatment by uniquely combining our deep knowledge in core areas of biology with cutting-edge technologies, and by working together with our partners – scientists, clinical experts, industry peers, advocates, and patients. We remain focused on delivering these transformative advances in treatment across some of the most debilitating and widespread cancers. We are also committed to exploring solutions to help patients obtain access to our cancer medicines. With the acquisitions of Pharmacyclics in 2015 and Stemcentrx in 2016, our research and development efforts, and through collaborations, AbbVie's oncology portfolio now consists of marketed medicines and a pipeline containing multiple new molecules being evaluated worldwide in more than 200 clinical trials and more than 20 different tumor types. For more information, please visit http://abbvieoncology.com.

About AbbVie
AbbVie is a global, research-driven biopharmaceutical company committed to developing innovative advanced therapies for some of the world's most complex and critical conditions. The company's mission is to use its expertise, dedicated people and unique approach to innovation to markedly improve treatments across four primary therapeutic areas: immunology, oncology, virology and neuroscience. In more than 75 countries, AbbVie employees are working every day to advance health solutions for people around the world. For more information about AbbVie, please visit us at www.abbvie.com. Follow @abbvie on Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn.

Forward-Looking Statements
Some statements in this news release are, or may be considered, forward-looking statements for purposes of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The words "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "project" and similar expressions, among others, generally identify forward-looking statements. AbbVie cautions that these forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, challenges to intellectual property, competition from other products, difficulties inherent in the research and development process, adverse litigation or government action, and changes to laws and regulations applicable to our industry. Additional information about the economic, competitive, governmental, technological and other factors that may affect AbbVie's operations is set forth in Item 1A, "Risk Factors," of AbbVie's 2017 Annual Report on Form 10-K, which has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. AbbVie undertakes no obligation to release publicly any revisions to forward-looking statements as a result of subsequent events or developments, except as required by law.

¹ Kazandjian D. Multiple myeloma epidemiology and survival: A unique malignancy. Semin Oncol 2016;43:676-681.
² Lakshman A, et al. Natural history of t(11;14) multiple myeloma. Leukemia. 2017;32:131-138.
³ Sonneveld P, Avet-Loiseau H, Lonial S et al. Treatment of multiple myeloma with high-risk cytogenetics: a consensus of the International Myeloma Working Group. Blood 2016;127:2955-2962.
⁴ American Cancer Society. What is Multiple Myeloma? https://www.cancer.org/cancer/multiple-myeloma/about/what-is-multiple-myeloma.html. Accessed February 2018.
⁵ Becker N. Epidemiology of Multiple Myeloma. Recent Results Cancer Res. 2011;183:25-35.
⁶ American Cancer Society. Survival Rates by Stage for Multiple Myeloma. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/multiple-myeloma/detection-diagnosis-staging/survival-rates.html. Accessed February 2018.

SOURCE AbbVie

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