New drug for treatment of multiple myeloma patients

The project seeks to commercialize a drug for use in Multiple myeloma (MM), a cancer of the bone marrow accounts for about 2% of cancer deaths. These cancer cells destroy bone and bone marrow function, compromises the immune system, cause severe infections, renal damage, pain, fatigue and low quality of life. Treatment of MM accounts for 15% of all cancer drug costs. The innovation is designed to meet the needs of a high value market where novel drugs are sought by caregivers and patients. MM drug sales are forecast to double by 2027, reaching $28.7 billion. Due to multiple lines of therapy that include combination therapy, patients currently receive several treatment lines. Analysis of emerging therapies demonstrate that emerging drugs will cover only a narrow segment of patients and market. There is a requirement for broadly acting drugs that can synergize and add to with current options. We propose that our lead candidate drug will kill MM cells and also potentiate the effect of other drugs for the disease. We aim to patent the use of a particular drug for a MM. We demonstrate a new indication, new target and mechanism of action. Most MM patients (>83% of 767 patients) have cancers that express the target for the drug. The drug holds promise for both market earnings and patient survival years with high quality of life. The project has now been started after a delay due to the pandemic.

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