NEW DRUG APPROVALS Blincyto for Rare Form of ALL The FDA has approved blinatumomab (Blincyto, Amgen) to treat patients with Philadelphia chromosome-negative precursor B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-cell ALL). Precursor B-cell ALL is a rapidly growing cancer in which the bone marrow makes too many B-cell lymphoblasts. The Philadelphia chromosome is an abnormality that sometimes occurs in...

To evaluate the safety, toxicity, and maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of IFN b-1a (Rebif, Serono Laboratories, Inc.) in patients with malignant diseases unresponsive to standard therapies and to assess the pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics associated with IFN b-1a administration, an open-label, single-center phase I study was designed. Thirtyfour patients were enrolled and treated with IFN b-1...

Has the medication received US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval? If so, what are the indications and uses? Yes . On November 14, 2014, the FDA approved alemtuzumab for treatment of relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS). Because of its safety profile, alemtuzumab should generally be reserved for patients who have had an inadequate response to two or more drugs indicated for the ...

Although interferon (IFN) b has many adverse effects, including flulike illness, increased spasticity, and laboratory abnormalities,1 autoimmune events are usually limited to autoantibodies with the thyroid the most common target organ involved.2 Liver abnormalities during IFN b therapy are usually clinically asymptomatic and transient biochemical events.1,2 We report a patient who developed ac...

Background & Objective: Multiple sclerosis is a relatively rare disease in China as compared to other nations throughout the world. This study aimed to assess the depth and breadth of knowledge of multiple sclerosis and its consequences specifi cally in China via a review and synthesis of existing literature. Methods: We conducted a literature search and reviewed studies that either were publis...

The clinical and radiologic impact of developing neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) to interferon beta (IFN ) while on this therapy for multiple sclerosis (MS) is assessed. On the basis of Class II and III evidence, it is concluded that treatment of patients with MS with IFN (Avonex, Betaseron, or Rebif) is associated with the production of NAbs (Level A). NAbs in the serum are probably associated ...

Recombinant human interferon(rhIFN) is the leading therapeutic intervention shown to change the cause of relapsingremitting multiple sclerosis, and both a nonglycosylated and a significantly more active glycosylated variant of rhIFNare used in treatment. This study investigates the function of the rhIFN1a glycan moiety and its individual carbohydrate residues, using the myxovirus resistance (Mx...