Positive data from the pivotal phase IIb clinical trial (003-A1) of Onyx Pharmaceutical's carfilzomib in relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma, one of 25 clinical trials conducted entirely or in part through the Multiple Myeloma Research Consortium (MMRC), may provide the foundation for Onyx to file a New Drug Application (NDA) with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) by year-end, for potential accelerated approval. This exemplifies the important role of the MMRC in accelerating the development of next-generation treatments for multiple myeloma, an incurable blood cancer.

The Multiple Myeloma Research Consortium (MMRC) and Mount Sinai School of Medicine announced that Mount Sinai has become the newest Member Institution to join the MMRC to accelerate the development of new treatments for multiple myeloma.

The MMRC brings together leading academic institutions to promote and facilitate collaborative research in multiple myeloma, an incurable blood cancer with one of the lowest five-year survival rates of any cancer. Through its clinical research model, the MMRC has opened 25 clinical trials to date. MMRC members are among the world's leading clinical research institutions in multiple myeloma. Mount Sinai School of Medicine's involvement in the MMRC follows the June appointment of blood cancer expert, Dr. Sundar Jagannath, MD, as Director of the Multiple Myeloma Program and Professor of Haematology and Medical Oncology at Mount Sinai School of Medicine's Tisch Cancer Institute. Based on its membership, Mount Sinai School of Medicine will conduct Phase I and II clinical trials in multiple myeloma, as well as contribute to the MMRC Tissue Bank, which houses a critical mass of highly-annotated tissue and peripheral blood samples from multiple myeloma patients, and serves as a bridge between laboratory and clinical research.

"Mount Sinai School of Medicine was invited to join the MMRC as a Member Institution based on specific criteria, including extensive experience in conducting clinical trials and research in multiple myeloma. We are excited to welcome Mount Sinai School of Medicine, and look forward to working in partnership with them and the rest of our Consortium membership to bring new therapies to patients as quickly as possible," said Susan L. Kelley, MD, chief medical officer of the MMRC. "We are also pleased to continue our long-standing relationship with Dr. Jagannath and his team, whose work is dedicated to improving outcomes for multiple myeloma patients."

An internationally known researcher, Dr. Jagannath has published more than 180 peer-reviewed articles in top journals including the New England Journal of Medicine, Blood, the Journal of Clinical Oncology, the British Journal of Haematology, and Cancer. As Director for the Multiple Myeloma Program at Mount Sinai, Dr. Jagannath is helping to develop the Multiple Myeloma and Stem Cell Transplant Program into a translational and clinical research centre in multiple myeloma. He is building projects that bridge basic science and clinical practices for the benefit of advancing care in blood cancer.

"Mount Sinai is honouredd to be recognized by the MMRC for our contributions to groundbreaking research in multiple myeloma," said Dr. Jagannath. "Together with the other institutions in this prestigious consortium, we will make great strides in the treatment of this devastating disease."

Prior to joining Mount Sinai, Dr. Jagannath was the Chief of the Multiple Myeloma Program and Bone Marrow and Stem Cell Transplantation Program at St. Vincent's Comprehensive Cancer Center (SVCCC) in New York City. Dr. Jagannath has been recognized for his commitment to myeloma research with two Humanitarian Awards and the Spirit of Hope Award from the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF), the sister organization to the MMRC. He is also the Honorary Chairman of "Laugh for Life," an annual New York fundraiser for the foundation.

The Multiple Myeloma Research Consortium (MMRC) is a 509(a)3 non-profit organization that integrates leading academic institutions to accelerate drug development in multiple myeloma.

The Mount Sinai Medical Center encompasses both The Mount Sinai Hospital and Mount Sinai School of Medicine. Established in 1968, Mount Sinai School of Medicine is one of few medical schools embedded in a hospital in the United States.