Carfilzomib Access

Carfilzomib is a new proteasome-inhibitor drug similar to Velcade, but with fewer side effects. In addition, some patients for whom Velcade no longer works have responded to Carfilzomib in trials.

Until now it has only been available in limited trials, but a new trial has been announced which will make it much more widely available. Here is the link: The MMRF.

To be eligible, patients must have progressive disease, had at least four prior therapies, and be refractory to at least one of those. Please check the website (MMRF link above) for a better definition of eligibility and exclusion criteria. 40 different clinical centers throughout the country are enrolling for the study, so that patients can have access locally.

The drug will be provided at no cost until it become commercially available, which could be as soon as the first half of 2012.

If you've tried everything else, here is one more good therapy.