The Multiple Myeloma Marches kick-off in less than two weeks, are you registered?
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Join us in one of the 23 communities across Canada to celebrate the 10
th
anniversary of the Multiple Myeloma March. Whether you’re walking, running, rolling, or cheerleading, we’ll be with you every step of the way! Friends and families of all ages are welcome, including our furry family members. Remember, pets must be kept on a leash and outdoors.
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To register or donate online, visit
myelomamarch.ca
or click on one of the communities below:
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NEW! Myeloma Canada Virtual Caregiver Support Group
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Are you a caregiver looking to connect and find support with other caregivers? Myeloma Canada recently launched a new virtual support group on Facebook for caregivers only. This is a closed group, offering a safe environment for caregivers to connect and exchange with others that are faced with a set of unique challenges while caring for someone who is living with myeloma. While this virtual support group eliminates geographical and language barriers (thanks to the Facebook translate button), information shared on this page is not visible to the public and all members must request to join the group to gain access. This group is monitored and led by Michelle Oana, Associate Director of Development and Communications at Myeloma Canada. She was herself a young caregiver for nearly 8.5 years and is happy to share her experiences and insight with the members.
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Note
: Myeloma Canada is the lead administrator and creator of the group, and reserves the right to remove any inappropriate, misleading or inaccurate content from the page. Any misconduct within the group will not be tolerated and will result in immediate removal from the group without prior notice.
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Advocacy News: National Pharmacare
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On July 18, Martine Elias, Executive Director, represented Myeloma Canada at the National Pharmacare Consultation held in Toronto. The event was hosted by Dr. Eric Hoskins, Chair of the Advisory Council on the Implementation of National Pharmacare. According to Martine, the dialogue amongst the large number of patient groups present was very productive. The council demonstrated a very clear willingness to listen and expressed the desire to ensure the national pharmacare program meets the needs of Canadian patients. As Dr. Hoskins said, “patients hold the single most important perspective.”
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For more information and perspective regarding national pharmacare and the direction of our Canadian healthcare system, read
last month’s column
of The Co-founder’s Perspective, written by Aldo Del Col.
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CAR T-Cell Therapy: Clinical Trial Now Open in Toronto
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KarMMa Trial: Efficacy and Safety Study of bb2121 in Subjects With Relapsed and Refractory Multiple Myeloma
KarMMA is a Phase II open label, single-arm, multicentre, trial that is evaluating the efficacy and safety of bb2121 in people with relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma. bb2121 is an investigational chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy that is thought to target and bind to B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA), a protein that is found on the surface of myeloma cells. This binding leads to the death of the myeloma cell.
As a global Phase II trial, the eligibility criteria for these types of trials are stringent. Canada, the United States, Belgium, France and Spain are expected to enroll an estimated total of 140 participants.
Details on this trial can be found
here
.
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GSK2857916 (a BCMA molecule) Trial is Now Recruiting at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre
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A Study to Investigate the Efficacy and Safety of Two Doses of GSK2857916 in Subjects With Multiple Myeloma Who Have Failed Prior Treatment With an Anti-CD38 Antibody
GSK2857916 is a drug that is linked (conjugated) to an antibody that also binds to BCMA (see
KarMMA trial description
for more information on BCMA). Once the drug is bound to BCMA on myeloma cells, the drug is released inside myeloma cells, leading to their destruction.
Information on this trial can be found
here
.
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MCRN 004 – The LAURENTIANS Trial
The Phase II trial studying
daratumumab (Darzalex®), the first monoclonal antibody for myeloma treatment to be approved by Health Canada, will provide 120 eligible patients across Canada access to this promising new treatment and help determine how to optimize the use of expensive drugs.
For more information about the trials or recruiting sites, click
here.
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MCRN 005 – The BOSTON Trial
This global phase III trial is evaluating the
efficacy and safety
of selinexor (KPT-330), an oral Selective Inhibitor of Nuclear Export (SINE™) compound. It was on June 7, 2017 that the first Canadian patient was administered this treatment and a total of 362 patients will be recruited over the course of the trial across North America, Australia and Europe.
NEW!
As of July 31, 2018, Sudbury, Ontario, has now been added to the list of recruiting sites for this trial.
For more information about the trials or recruiting sites, click
here
.
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Looking for a clinical trial in your area?
Search for clinical trials in Canada using Myeloma Canada’s Personal Clinical Trial Finder.
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Spotlight on David & Erika: Getting Involved is Meaningful to Us
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“All this work and involvement have been highly meaningful. Perhaps the most meaningful interactions are the many one-on-one conversations with patients that allow us to listen with compassion, share experiences and provide encouragement.”
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2
nd
Annual Mangia for Myeloma
Congratulations to Jennifer Radjenovich for hosting a very successful and delightful community fundraising event in Windsor, Ontario, in honour of her dad, Guido Vettorello, who is currently living with myeloma. Joined for the evening by Aldo Del Col, Co-founder of Myeloma Canada, the event successfully raised $4,400 for the Windsor-Essex County Multiple Myeloma March! Congratulations to Jenny and her family for such a great turnout!
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Aldo Del Col, Co-founder of Myeloma Canada, pictured with the Radjenovich family. From left to right: Aldo Del Col, Jennifer Radjenovich, Guido Vettorello, Kathleen Vettorello and Janet Mayville
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Yard Sale in Thunder Bay
On August 25,
the
Thunder Bay Myeloma Advocacy Group
had a yard sale to support the regional Multiple Myeloma March. This fundraising event raised
780$!
What a great initiative!
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Two-Day Event:
Prince George InfoSession &
Prince George Multiple Myeloma March
August 31 & September 1, 2018
Prince George, BC
For patients, caregivers and
the myeloma community.
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Rimouski InfoSession
(French)
September 14, 2018
Hôtels Gouverneur Rimouski, QC
For patients, caregivers and
the myeloma community.
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Multiple Myeloma Fish Fry
September 7, 2018
Columbian Hall, McGregor, ON
A special "Friday Night Fish Fry" to benefit the Windsor-Essex County Multiple Myeloma March!
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Myeloma Canada Scientific Roundtable
September 28-29
Montreal, QC
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Each year, the annual Myeloma Canada Scientific Roundtable brings together close to 100 stakeholders, including Canada’s top myeloma experts from coast to coast, scientists from the USA and Europe, our industry research partners and patients. The meeting is an incubator for clinical trial ideas and supports our goal of developing high-impact made-in-Canada clinical trials for patients across the country.
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3
rd
Annual Sam’s Monte Carlo Casino Night
October 27, 2018
Montreal, QC
COST: EARLY BIRD RATE $150 /REGULAR $175
*Early bird rate until September 30
* Early bird hotel rates until August 31
DINNER | COMPLIMENTARY BEER & WINE | GAMBLING | RAFFLES & AUCTIONS | ENTERTAINMENT | GRAND PRIZE TRIP | OPTIONAL SHUTTLE TO AND FROM THE WEST ISLAND
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