On Friday 29th July 2016, Celgene, Stockley Park, UK Celgene announce that REVLIMID® (lenalidomide), in combination with low-dose dexamethasone, has been recommended by the All Wales Medicine Strategy Group (AWMSG) for the treatment of adult patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (NDMM), who are not eligible for transplant and are unsuitable for thalidomide-containing regimens. This recommendation enables NHS access to the treatment combination for eligible Welsh patients, joining patients in Scotland and Northern Ireland who currently have access to the combination in this…

Public Health Wales is helping raise awareness of myeloma as part of the national awareness week (21-28 June). Recent analysis of Welsh Cancer Intelligence and Surveillance Unit data shows that the survival rate for this second most common cancer of the blood is increasing rapidly in Wales, partly due to improved treatment. Myeloma is a cancer of plasma cells within the bone marrow. Any place in the body where bone marrow is normally active can be affected (eg spine, rib…