What evidence did it take thalidomide, the most notorious drug of all time to be used by cancer doctors in the US?
A study of 84 patients with no control arm. Myeloma cancer occurs in about 4/100,000 people per year. And had a median survival of 3-4 years at that time.
1/
A study of 84 patients with no control arm. Myeloma cancer occurs in about 4/100,000 people per year. And had a median survival of 3-4 years at that time.
1/
This is that study.
84 patients of whom 25% responded to therapy. Published in 1999. @NEJM nejm.org/doi/full/10.10…
84 patients of whom 25% responded to therapy. Published in 1999. @NEJM nejm.org/doi/full/10.10…
I led a randomized trial which eventually got thalidomide FDA approved for myeloma in 2006, but that trial would not be published until 2005.
By then thalidomide was already used widely in the US, off label, almost exclusively for myeloma. @ASCO_pubs ascopubs.org/doi/10.1200/JC…
By then thalidomide was already used widely in the US, off label, almost exclusively for myeloma. @ASCO_pubs ascopubs.org/doi/10.1200/JC…
The story of the fall and rise of thalidomide is fascinating, and has many lessons for risk benefit calls. You can read it here. @MayoProceedings @MayoClinic mayoclinicproceedings.org/article/S0025-…
We now use “cousins” of thalidomide (lenalidomide and pomalidomide) more than thalidomide.
Combined with proteasome inhibitors, they have helped more than double the survival of myeloma patients. A gain of over 3 years lifespan on average. @leepers500
Combined with proteasome inhibitors, they have helped more than double the survival of myeloma patients. A gain of over 3 years lifespan on average. @leepers500
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
