Volume 20 Number 2
Spring 2020
Myeloma Today A publication of the International Myeloma Foundation
A Message from the IMF President & CEO
In this edition: } Immunotherapy in Myeloma: } FDA Approves Isatuximab Attacking the Plasma Cell in New Ways PAGE 4
(Sarclisa®) for Relapsed Refractory Myeloma PAGE 6
This edition of Myeloma Today is supported by Amgen • Genentech • Sanofi Genzyme • Takeda Oncology
International Myeloma Foundation
Founder
President & CEO
Brian D. Novis
Susie Durie
Board of Directors
Chairman Dr. Brian G.M. Durie Christine Battistini Yelak Biru Prof. Dr. Mario Boccadoro Loraine Boyle Susie Durie
Martine Elias George T. Hayum Jason Katz Benson Klein Andrew Kuzneski, III
Dr. Robert A. Kyle Prof. Dr. Heinz Ludwig Dr. Edith Mitchell Charles Newman Dr. S. Vincent Rajkumar
Matthew Robinson E. Michael D. Scott
IMF Executive Team Chief Financial Officer & Chief Operating Officer Jennifer Scarne jscarne@myeloma.org Chief Medical Officer Dr. Joseph Mikhael jmikhael@myeloma.org
Senior Vice President, Strategic Planning Diane Moran dmoran@myeloma.org
Senior Vice President, Clinical Education & Research Initiatives Lisa Paik lpaik@myeloma.org
Senior Vice President, Global Affairs Daniel Navid dnavid@myeloma.org
Senior Vice President, Philanthropy Lynn K. Green, Ed.D. lgreen@myeloma.org
Senior Vice President, Global Advocacy, Access, Policy & Research Mimi Choon-Quinones, PhD, MBA mchoon-quinones@myeloma.org
Vice President, Marketing Peter Anton panton@myeloma.org
IMF Staff Inventory Control Manager Betty Arevalo marevalo@myeloma.org Senior Director, Member Events Suzanne Battaglia sbattaglia@myeloma.org Regional Director, Support Groups Nancy Bruno nbruno@myeloma.org Director, Support Groups & Regional Community Workshops Kelly Cox kcox@myeloma.org Director, Public Policy & Advocacy Danielle Doheny ddoheny@myeloma.org Director, Global Myeloma Action Network and European & Middle Eastern Patient Programs Serdar Erdoğan serdogan@myeloma.org
Patient Meetings Coordinator, US Carmen Greene cgreene@myeloma.org Meeting Registration & Guest Relations Abigail Guzman aguzman@myeloma.org Senior Director, Philanthropy Brenda Hawkes bhawkes@myeloma.org InfoLine Coordinator Paul Hewitt phewitt@myeloma.org Web Specialist Kevin Huynh khuynh@myeloma.org Editor-in-Chief, Publications Marya Kazakova mkazakova@myeloma.org Assistant Director, Member Events Ilana Kenville ikenville@myeloma.org
Donor Relations Heather Fishman hfishman@myeloma.org
InfoLine Coordinator Missy Klepetar mklepetar@myeloma.org
Support Group Coordinator Jon Fitzpatrick jfitzpatrick@myeloma.org
Manager, Marketing & Communications Sapna Kumar skumar@myeloma.org
Accountant Phil Lange plange@myeloma.org
Web Producer Miko Santos msantos@myeloma.org
Assistant to Senior Director, Member Events Karla Lemus klemus@myeloma.org
Regional Director, Support Groups Kelley Sidorowicz ksidorowicz@myeloma.org
Senior Director, Public Policy & Advocacy Robin Levy rlevy@myeloma.org
Donor Relations Sarah Solomon ssolomon@myeloma.org
Research Project Coordinator Amirah Limayo alimayo@myeloma.org
Accounting & Distribution Brando Sordoni bsordoni@myeloma.org
Publication Design Jim Needham jneedham@myeloma.org
Assistant to the President Rafi Stephan rstephan@myeloma.org
Administrative Assistant, Meetings & Events Meghan O’Connor moconnor@myeloma.org
Vice President, Support Groups Robin Tuohy rtuohy@myeloma.org
Director, Operations Selma Plascencia splascencia@myeloma.org
InfoLine Coordinator Judy Webb jwebb@myeloma.org
Director, Meetings & Events Annabel Reardon areardon@myeloma.org
Donor Relations Jonathan Weitz jweitz@myeloma.org
Database Analyst Joy Riznikove jriznikove@myeloma.org
Director, Public Policy & Advocacy Raymond L. Wezik, JD rwezik@myeloma.org
This free issue of Myeloma Today© (Volume 20, Number 2) is dated April 15, 2020. Myeloma Today© is a quarterly (Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter) publication of the International Myeloma Foundation, located at 12650 Riverside Drive, Suite 206, North Hollywood, CA 91607 USA
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A Message from the IMF President & CEO Dear Reader, I remember, many years ago, some people were worrying that aliens would take over the earth. There were movies based on that premise, and as a kid it scared the heck out of me. I was afraid to go to bed at night and my mother had to be there to tuck me in and protect me. While I’m no longer a kid, right now I am very worried – but I’m not scared. We are living in unprecedented times. I would have never imagined that we would be living under such siege. During this COVID-19 pandemic, I want you all to stay safe and stay at home as much as possible. Please follow the guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) at cdc.gov and utilize all the excellent resources available on the IMF website myeloma.org – especially on the myeloma.org/covid19-myeloma-patients page – where you will find information pertinent to myeloma patients in this fluid and ever-evolving situation. While we pay attention to what must be done at this time, I want you to also keep in mind a simple concept that might help us all to get through this together… KINDNESS. Let’s be kind to our family, our friends, our coworkers, our neighbors (even if you don’t like the way they trim their hedges), and don’t forget to be kind to your pets – they are family too! “Doing the right thing is always the right thing to do” is a saying that’s very close to my heart. Be assured that the
IMF is continuing to make great strides toward our common goal. We’re continuing to reach out to our global myeloma community to strengthen existing relationships and to build new ones. We’re continuing to work collaboratively with our partners to move us closer to a cure. And the IMF Team is continuing to empower myeloma patients and caregivers. The IMF is here for you! We are Myeloma Warriors – even when it’s hard to feel like a “warrior” with so much going on in the world right now. Stay safe, stay resilient. We will get through this together. As always, we’ll continue to keep you posted through our website myeloma.org and we welcome you to email us at TheIMF@myeloma.org or call our toll-free InfoLine at 1-800-452-CURE! Warm regards,
Susie Durie, IMF President & CEO
MYELOMA PATIENT SAFETY AND THE CORONAVIRUS
Living Well with Myeloma Webinar
Replay this timely and important webinar at myeloma.org/imf-video
Paul Richardson, MD
800.452.CURE toll-free in USA and Canada
Brian G.M. Durie, MD
818.487.7455 worldwide
Beth Faiman, PhD, RN
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Scientific & Clinical
#W
DR J S I E R HE
OE
Immunotherapy in Myeloma: Attacking the Plasma Cell in New Ways
By Dr. Joseph Mikhael IMF Chief Medical Officer
The wave of immunotherapy in cancer is real – we are truly employing the patient’s own immune system in the fight against cancer cells. This is absolutely true in multiple myeloma. As we better understand the immune system and the cancer cells in myeloma (plasma cells), we are developing strategies that engage the immune system to combat this disease. What better tool than the patient’s own immune system?! Let me review three ways in which we can fight myeloma with new drugs that employ the immune system: 1. Monoclonal Antibody (mAb or moAb) – isatuximab (Sarclisa®), new agent 2. Antibody Drug Conjugate (ADC) – belantamab mafodotin, new agent 3. Bispecific T-Cell Engagers (BiTEs, bispecific antibodies) – several new agents in development
Monoclonal Antibodies One of the most important aspects of our immune system is an ability to “remember” what it has seen to be able to fight it in the future. For example, when we get a vaccination to tetanus, we are sending a message to healthy plasma cells to ask them to remember what tetanus looks like so that, if infected, we can fight it. The plasma cells respond by making an antibody (“against-body”) to tetanus. We keep these in storage until the infection. They are Y shaped – the top of the Y hooks on to the infection (e.g., tetanus) and the bottom part of the Y triggers the immune system to respond in many ways to destroy what is attached to the antibody. We have reproduced this concept in cancer care, and indeed in myeloma, by making antibodies that attach to the surface of cancer cells and trigger the immune system to destroy them. The first drugs to do this in myeloma were daratumumab (Darzalex®), which attaches to the CD38 surface antigen (marker) on myeloma cells, and elotuzumab (Empliciti®), which attaches to the SLAMF7 marker on myeloma cells. This concept has really changed the way we treat myeloma, as these drugs tend to be highly effective and with minimal side effects.
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We now have a new monoclonal antibody to add to the list – isatuximab (Sarclisa) – which was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on March 2, 2020. See our snapshot of the FDA approval on page 6. Isatuximab, much like daratumumab, is a monoclonal antibody that is directed at the CD38 surface marker on myeloma cells. This drug was very effective as a single agent with a >25% response rate in heavily pretreated relapsed myeloma patients. Isatuximab will initially be used in combination with pomalidomide (Pomalyst®) + dexamethasone (Pd) in patients who have had at least 2 prior lines of therapy that includes a proteasome inhibitor and an immunomodulatory drug. It has a similar profile to daratumumab but a shorter infusion time and, after the first month, it is given every two weeks.
Antibody Drug Conjugates Although monoclonal antibodies are now prolifically used in myeloma, there are ways to further enhance their activity. One of the ways we can do this is to attach a drug (“toxin”) that can accompany the antibody and be dropped into the cell to kill that cell. This is really a smart bomb concept – the antibody is specific to the cancer cell; it spares the normal tissues, and once it has secured its target, sheds a drug that is attached (“conjugated”) to it. That drug can then directly kill the cell, also sparing the good cells around it. This may sound a little like the latest sci-fi movie, but it is very real. Some have even used the term “warhead” for the drug that is attached to the antibody. The first ADC to be used in myeloma is belantamab mafodotin. The antibody component is directed against a cell surface marker called BCMA (B-cell maturation antigen). This marker exists on nearly all myeloma cells and is therefore an ideal target for an antibody. Remember BCMA as soon it will be a part of many new drugs in myeloma. Attached to the antibody is a compound called “auristatin F” which is very toxic to myeloma cells. This ADC has been tested extensively in myeloma in a series of clinical trials called the DREAMM studies. We are eagerly awaiting further results of these trials and an approval from the FDA is imminent.
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Bispecific T-Cell Engagers This is a very new class of drugs that truly have a remarkable and unique mechanism of action. It leverages both the machinery of the monoclonal antibody, but further employs the T cells that exist already in the patient. T cells act as soldier cells that fight to protect the body – they are some of the most important parts of our immune system. In this kind of therapy, we want to have a patient’s own T cells fight against their own myeloma. Of course our immune cells, like T cells, are designed to ensure they do not attack ourselves, so we have to teach them to attack myeloma. I will describe CAR T-cell therapy in more detail, and how we can literally train T cells to attack an exact tumor, in an upcoming edition of Myeloma Today. It takes a lot of time and an incredible amount of effort to collect T cells, train them, and then give them back to patients. The concept of a bispecific T-cell engager skips most of those steps. Think of the drug as a two armed antibody – one arm hooks on to the tumor cell (usually via BCMA as described above) and the other arm hooks on
to a T cell and introduces it to the myeloma cell. This is why it is called “bi-specific” as it is TWO arms and precise (specific) to its target. These drugs have the potential to do essentially what CAR T-cell therapy can do but in a simple infusion. The results are very preliminary but are very exciting as we see this incredible biotechnology at work. Please stay tuned as I will continue this immunotherapy theme in future editions of Myeloma Today. I will further describe this fascinating approach to killing myeloma that we hope will help our patients live longer with this disease, and indeed better! MT Stay tuned for Dr. Mikhael’s next #WHEREISDRJOE column in the summer edition of Myeloma Today. Please contact the IMF InfoLine for help with your myeloma-related questions and concerns. Information specialists Paul Hewitt, Missy Klepetar, and Judy Webb can be reached at 800.452.CURE in the US and Canada or 818.487.7455 worldwide. Phone lines are open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Pacific), or please email InfoLine@myeloma.org to submit your query electronically.
New Agents in Myeloma myeloma cell (malignant plasma cell)
nucleus
T Cell
CD38 cell surface marker * cell surface markers***
SLAMF7
cell surface marker **
cell surface marker * TOXIN
* MONOCLONAL ANTIBODIES daratumumab – CD38 elotuzumab – SLAMF7 isatuximab – CD38
800.452.CURE toll-free in USA and Canada
** ANTIBODY DRUG CONJUGATE belantamab mafodotin – BCMA
818.487.7455 worldwide
*** BISPECIFIC T-CELL ENGAGERS AMG 701 – BCMA CC-93269 – BCMA
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Scientific & Clinical
The FDA Approves Isatuximab-irfc (Sarclisa®) for Relapsed Refractory Myeloma On March 2, 2020, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the novel anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody isatuximab-irfc (Sarclisa) in combination with the immunomodulatory drug pomalidomide (Pomalyst®) + the steroid dexamethasone (Pd) for patients with relapsed refractory myeloma who have received at least two therapies that included lenalidomide (Revlimid®) and a proteasome inhibitor (such as Velcade®, Ninlaro®, or Kyprolis®). The FDA approval was based on the ICARIA-MM clinical trial – a multicenter, multinational, randomized, open-label, two-arm, phase III study. The study included 307 patients from 96 centers across 24 countries. Patients were ran domized to receive either isatuximab + pomalidomide + low-dose dexamethasone (Isa-Pd, 154 patients) or pomalid omide + low-dose dexamethasone (Pd, 153 patients).
The main efficacy outcome measure was progression-free survival (PFS) using International Myeloma Working Group (IMWG) criteria. In patients treated with Isa-Pd, the improvement in PFS represented a 40% reduction in the risk of disease progression or death. Median PFS for the patients who received Isa-Pd was 11.53 months vs 6.47 months for those who received Pd. The most common adverse reactions (≥ 20% of patients) were neutropenia (low white blood cell count), infusionrelated reactions, pneumonia, upper respiratory tract infection, and diarrhea. The recommended isatuximab dose is 10 mg/kg as an intravenous infusion every week for 4 weeks followed by every 2 weeks in combination with Pd until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. MT
What does this mean for patients with myeloma? “Most patients with multiple myeloma unfortunately relapse and become refractory to currently available therapies. Sarclisa® used in combination with pomalidomide and dexamethasone (Pd) offers an important new treatment option for patients in the United States living with this incurable disease. “The pivotal ICARIA-MM trial was the first phase III study of a CD38 antibody in combination with Pd to present results demonstrating significant clinical benefit in this setting. The study enrolled a broad population of patients with relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma that is particularly difficult to treat and with poor prognosis, which is reflective of real-world practice.”
Paul Richardson, MD
Principal investigator, ICARIA-MM “Every time we have a new option for myeloma patients, it is an important contribution to myeloma treatments. Isatuximab (Sarclisa®) is a very potent drug, much like daratumumab (Darzalex®). Although isatuximab will not be used as a single agent, it has single agent activity of about 25% in heavily pretreated patients. It is particularly effective in combination with immunomodulatory drugs, such as lenalidomide (Revlimid®) and pomalidomide (Pomalyst®). “Isatuximab is generally well tolerated, with a side effect profile very similar to daratumumab. Although similar to daratumumab, isatuximab is not the same: it has a more convenient, shorter infusion time, and its target on the myeloma cell is slightly different. Isatuximab will be a very effective treatment for patients who have not previously been treated with daratumumab or pomalidomide. However, isatuximab may not be extensively used because many myeloma patients are being treated with daratumumab and/or pomalidomide in their first two lines of therapy. How effective this combination is in patients with prior daratumumab and/or pomalidomide is still unclear.”
Joseph Mikhael, MD
Chief Medical Officer, IMF
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Special Event
Myeloma Action Month
The IMF launches a resilience-themed campaign for 2020 MAM
Members of a Florida myeloma support group help kick off the #IAMRESILIENT2020 campaign
From Global to Local
By Robin Tuohy IMF Vice President, Support Groups
In March 2020, the International Myeloma Foundation launched a resilience-themed campaign for Myeloma Action Month to commemorate the IMF’s 30-year anniversary. In the words of IMF co-founder, Brian D. Novis, “One person can make a difference; two can make a miracle.” With this sentiment in mind, the IMF brought together members of the myeloma community and beyond to focus on the theme of resilience, the capacity to adapt to challenges.
The “Wall of Resilience” In July 2019, at the IMF’s Support Group Leaders Summit and later at the IMF’s annual Comedy Celebration event, the IMF showcased the “Wall of Resilience” art display. Conceived and curated by Susan Dunnett, PhD (Senior Lecturer, University of Edinburgh, Scotland), this visual exploration of personal resilience featured photographs from 100 IMF-affiliated myeloma support group leaders, each photograph paired with a story explaining each unique representation of resilience.
Global Impact For the 2020 Myeloma Action Month, the IMF expanded the “Wall of Resilience” to the digital landscape. Individuals and groups around the globe shared their photos and stories, helping spread myeloma awareness by using the hashtag #IAMRESILIENT2020 on all social media channels. The #IAMRESILIENT2020 hashtag was translated worldwide! The posts also streamed to the IMF’s digital “Wall of Resilience” at mam.myeloma.org, the Myeloma Action Month webpage. 800.452.CURE toll-free in USA and Canada
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IMF Partners in Resilience (see page 10) helped activate and amplify the 2020 Myeloma Action Month campaign in the US and around the world. Members of the myeloma community also made a difference in their local communities. Linda Huguelet, leader of the Chattanooga Multiple Myeloma Networking Group, worked to ensure that both Hamilton County and the entire state of Tennessee proclaimed March as Myeloma Action Month. Steve & Sheila Ellingboe and Tony & Bev Hartzburg of the Central Minnesota Multiple Myeloma Support Group downloaded a press release provided by the IMF and got it published in the St. Cloud Times. The Manchester Multiple Myeloma Information Group of New Hampshire posted a Photo Journal of Resilience on their website.
Outreach to Healthcare Professionals Earlier and more accurate diagnoses of myeloma lead to improved outcomes. The patient action letter written by IMF Chairman Dr. Brian G.M. Durie has been delivered by patients and caregivers to general practitioners and other local doctors to inform them of common signs and symptoms of multiple myeloma. Dr. Durie’s action letter has now been distributed countless times! In fact, Support Group Leader Linda Huguelet spearheaded the sending of nearly 200 of these action letters.
Take Action! The IMF was so inspired by the actions of the myeloma community in March, that the #IAMRESILIENT2020 Myeloma Action Month campaign will continue beyond March and through the rest of 2020. Visit mam.myeloma.org and learn how to participate. Every action – no matter how small – makes a big impact. Together, we are resilient! MT (continues on next page)
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Special Event MAM – CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7
WALL OF RESILIENCE Here are some examples of how our partners and our global community are showing
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#IAMRESILIENT2020 resilience and adapting to the challenges we all face with myeloma around the world.
(continues on next page)
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Special Event MAM – CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9
Partners in Resilience We are thankful to our Partners for their generous support to help make the 2020 Myeloma Action Month a success! RESILIENT PLATINUM PARTNERS:
RESILIENT SILVER PARTNER:
ADDITIONAL SUPPORTER:
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Advocacy
Diversity Within Clinical Trials
Legislative approaches to addressing the issue By Robin Levy IMF Senior Director, Public Policy & Advocacy
There is a sad truth: Myeloma patients can face many barriers to receiving the care they need. In past editions of Myeloma Today, the IMF Advocacy team has written about legislation that would help myeloma patients gain access to their drugs. We acknowledge that there are other barriers patients face, and that racial disparities are certainly an important issue to examine and address. One important area to address – which will improve care for all myeloma patients – is access to clinical trials. Diverse clinical trials produce better research and higher quality treatments. The “Minorities in Clinical Trials Fact Sheet” published by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) articulates why diversity in clinical trials is so vital:
“Participants in clinical trials should represent the patients that will use the medical products. This is often not the case – racial and ethnic minorities are underrepresented in clinical research. This is a concern because people of different ages, races, and ethnicities, may react differently to medical products.” Dr. Joseph Mikhael (IMF Chief Medical Officer) was invited to and participated in the FDA meeting to specifically address the need for African Americans to take part in clinical trials. With African Americans twice as likely to face a myeloma diagnosis, the lack of diversity in clinical trials is a major issue that has an impact on the entire myeloma community. Members of IMF Medical Education team recently joined with the FDA and the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) to discuss the issue of underrepresentation in clinical trials. The FDA plays an important role in addressing racial disparities, however there are other areas that must also be addressed in order to achieve true change. The IMF has endorsed some legislative proposals that we believe could improve access.
The Henrietta Lacks Enhancing Cancer Research Act of 2019 focuses on eliminating health disparities by directing the US Comptroller General to complete a study on barriers to participation in federally funded cancer clinical trials by populations that have been traditionally underrepresented in such trials. The bill (S.946/H.R.1966) was authored by the late Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-MD) and Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD). They recognized the existence of barriers that may be keeping diverse populations from participating in trials. The bill simply requires an investigation into those barriers, with the goal of addressing the issues. We believe the bill could provide insight for patients living in rural areas, as well as female patients and patients who are ethnic minorities. The Clinical Treatment Act (H.R.913) is another example of legislation that could bring about improvement in access to clinical trials. The majority of state Medicaid programs do not cover routine costs associated with clinical trials. Medicare, private insurers, and several state Medicaid programs require this coverage, and current policy keeps many Medicaid patients from participating in clinical trials. Rep. Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM) and Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) authored H.R.913 with the goal of making this coverage mandatory. This bill would help ensure that clinical trial participation is more reflective of the population of the United States and that patients who would benefit from participation have full access to all of the treatment options available, regardless of what type of insurance coverage they have. We believe that there are many ways to improve access to clinical trials for all patients, and that diverse clinical trial participation benefits all cancer patients. MT
If you wish to contact your legislator about the Henrietta Lacks Enhancing Cancer Research Act of 2019 or the Clinical Treatment Act, please visit advocacy.myeloma.org. If you would like to follow the IMF Advocacy team’s efforts or want to get involved with myeloma advocacy, please visit subscribe.myeloma.org and subscribe to the IMF Advocacy newsletter.
Military Firefighters Legislation By Ray Wezik IMF Director, Public Policy & Advocacy
Thanks to the efforts of the IMF’s Veterans Against Myeloma (VAM) program, veterans and current service members and their families have become more aware of the environmental exposures unique to military life. The IMF has been raising awareness about the increased instances of myeloma in military firefighters through exposure to polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The Michael Lecik Military Firefighters Protection Act (H.R.5637) has the potential to help military firefighters with 800.452.CURE toll-free in USA and Canada
818.487.7455 worldwide
myeloma by establishing a presumption of exposure to these cancer-causing chemicals, helping this population to access care and benefits more quickly if diagnosed with myeloma plus a number of other conditions. This bill is named after a military firefighter and myeloma patient who tragically faced barriers in accessing his benefits and care from the VA. The bill’s lead sponsors are Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-VA) and Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE). The IMF will continue to push for legislation that will help members of the military and firefighters with myeloma and their families. To help support this legislation, please navigate to bit.ly/lecik. MT SPRING 2020
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Lynn K. Green, Ed.D. Senior Vice President, Philanthropy 334.332.0888 lgreen@myeloma.org
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Myeloma Warriors
Magical Miles for Myeloma
A daughter honors her father at the Walt Disney World Marathon By Suzanne Battaglia IMF Senior Director, Member Events
In September 2017, Alexandra Rosen’s family heard the one word that changed their lives in an instant: cancer. Alexandra’s father, Nat Rosen, was diagnosed with myeloma. “The news brought on so many unknowns, so many fears, and so many questions,” recalls Alexandra, who is the youngest of Nat’s four daughters. “We’re a very close-knit Italian family, and my dad’s journey with myeloma has had a huge impact on us all in so many ways.” Nat underwent chemotherapy followed by a transplant, and the long-awaited day when Nat finally started maintenance was celebrated by the entire family. In January 2020, to honor her dad and all the other people like him who are living with myeloma, Alexandra took part in the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend. For Alexandra, joining such a huge event offered the benefit of camaraderie with the thousands of other participants running alongside her, each supporting an organization and a cause that’s close to their heart. An added benefit was the organizational support of an established fundraising event that’s held annually at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. Alexandra ran the 10K and the half marathon, a total of 19.3 miles, on behalf of the IMF in order to raise myeloma awareness and funds for research. “Running was an extremely challenging Alexandra is in the right place for making magic
experience, but the exhaustion was overshadowed by a sense of accomplishment. What I endured during my races doesn’t come close in comparison to the fight that many people with myeloma have to face.” Alexandra is happy to report that Nat is doing well and that he regularly blogs on thecanswerman.com about his journey with myeloma. “Thanks to cutting-edge research and my dad’s amazing medical team, he is LIVING with myeloma!” MT
Alexandra has the finish line in sight
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Turn YOUR ideas into progress toward a cure for myeloma! Contact Suzanne Battaglia, Senior Director of Member Events, at sbattaglia@myeloma.org or 800.452.CURE and she’ll help bring your fundraiser to fruition. We also encourage you to visit myeloma.org/take-action/fundraise and join or support events that benefit the IMF.
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Live webinar recorded on
MARCH 14 2020
IMF PATIENT & FAMILY WEBINAR
Replay the archived recording at MYELOMA.ORG/IMF-VIDEOS
Brian G.M. Durie, MD Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Los Angeles, CA
Paul Richardson, MD Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Boston, MA
Rafat Abonour, MD University of Indiana Indianapolis, IN
Yelak Biru
Patient Advocate NW Arkansas
Listen to the experts at this informative webinar – myeloma.org/imf-video 14
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Shop for the Cause! Whether you shop on Amazon for special occasions or for your daily needs, please designate the International Myeloma Foundation as your preferred charity. At no added cost to you, Amazon will donate to the IMF a percentage of your purchases if you access your account through smile.amazon.com – IT’S THAT SIMPLE! Same products. Same prices. Same service.
smile.amazon.com
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Please visit myeloma.org for the latest information from the IMF. For news from our international partners, please visit these websites:
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amen.org.il (Israel) 818.487.7455 (worldwide)
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mielomabrasil.org (Latin America) myeloma.org