2009-12-18 13:43:16 -

Celgene Corporation (Nasdaq:CELG) today announced the National Cancer Institute (NCI), a part of the National Institutes of Health, reported initial data from a Phase III, randomized, double-blind, multi-center clinical study led by the Cancer and Leukemia Group B (CALGB). The investigational study evaluated REVLIMID ® compared to placebo in multiple myeloma patients following autologous stem cell transplant, and the independent Data and Safety Monitoring Board reported that the trial had met its primary endpoint of a statistically significant improvement in time to disease progression. The study was sponsored by the NCI under a Clinical Trials Agreement with Celgene.

Further results from the study will be presented in a peer-reviewed setting in 2010.


About REVLIMID ®

REVLIMID ® is an IMiDs ® compound.

REVLIMID and

other IMiDs continue to be evaluated in over 100 clinical trials. The IMiDs pipeline is covered by a comprehensive intellectual property estate of issued and pending patent applications in the US, EU and other regions, including composition-of- matter and use patents.

REVLIMID is approved in combination with dexamethasone for the treatment of patients with multiple myeloma who have received at least one prior therapy in nearly 50 countries, encompassing Europe, the Americas, the Middle-East and Asia, and in combination with dexamethasone for the treatment of patients whose disease has progressed after one therapy in Australia and New Zealand.

REVLIMID is also approved in the United States, Canada and several Latin American countries, as well as Malaysia and Israel, for transfusion-dependent anemia due to low- or intermediate-1-risk MDS associated with a deletion 5q cytogenetic abnormality with or without additional cytogenetic abnormalities. Marketing Authorization Applications are currently being evaluated in a number of other countries.


Important Safety Information

REVLIMID ® (lenalidomide) in combination with dexamethasone is indicated for the treatment of multiple myeloma patients who have received at least one prior therapy.

REVLIMID ® (lenalidomide) is indicated for patients with transfusion-dependent anemia due to Low- or Intermediate-1–risk myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) associated with a deletion 5q cytogenetic abnormality with or without additional cytogenetic abnormalities.

WARNINGS:


1. POTENTIAL FOR HUMAN BIRTH DEFECTS.


LENALIDOMIDE IS AN ANALOGUE OF THALIDOMIDE. THALIDOMIDE IS A KNOWN HUMAN TERATOGEN THAT CAUSES SEVERE LIFE-THREATENING HUMAN BIRTH DEFECTS.
IF LENALIDOMIDE IS TAKEN DURING PREGNANCY, IT MAY CAUSE BIRTH DEFECTS OR DEATH TO AN UNBORN BABY. FEMALES SHOULD BE ADVISED TO AVOID PREGNANCY WHILE TAKING REVLIMID ® (lenalidomide).

Special Prescribing Requirements



BECAUSE OF THIS POTENTIAL TOXICITY AND TO AVOID FETAL EXPOSURE TO REVLIMID ® (lenalidomide), REVLIMID ® (lenalidomide) IS ONLY AVAILABLE UNDER A SPECIAL RESTRICTED DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM. THIS PROGRAM IS CALLED “RevAssist ® ”. UNDER THIS PROGRAM, ONLY PRESCRIBERS AND PHARMACISTS REGISTERED WITH THE PROGRAM CAN PRESCRIBE AND DISPENSE THE PRODUCT. IN ADDITION, REVLIMID ® (lenalidomide) MUST ONLY BE DISPENSED TO PATIENTS WHO ARE REGISTERED AND MEET ALL THE CONDITIONS OF THE RevAssist ® PROGRAM.

2. HEMATOLOGIC TOXICITY (NEUTROPENIA AND THROMBOCYTOPENIA).


THIS DRUG IS ASSOCIATED WITH SIGNIFICANT NEUTROPENIA AND THROMBOCYTOPENIA. EIGHTY PERCENT OF PATIENTS WITH DEL 5q MYELODYSPLASTIC SYNDROMES HAD TO HAVE A DOSE DELAY/REDUCTION DURING THE MAJOR STUDY. THIRTY-FOUR PERCENT OF PATIENTS HAD TO HAVE A SECOND DOSE DELAY/REDUCTION. GRADE 3 OR 4 HEMATOLOGIC TOXICITY WAS SEEN IN 80% OF PATIENTS ENROLLED IN THE STUDY. PATIENTS ON THERAPY FOR DEL 5q MYELODYSPLASTIC SYNDROMES SHOULD HAVE THEIR COMPLETE BLOOD COUNTS MONITORED WEEKLY FOR THE FIRST 8 WEEKS OF THERAPY AND AT LEAST MONTHLY THEREAFTER. PATIENTS MAY REQUIRE DOSE INTERRUPTION AND/OR REDUCTION.
PATIENTS MAY REQUIRE USE OF BLOOD PRODUCT SUPPORT AND/OR GROWTH FACTORS.

(SEE DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION)

3. DEEP VENOUS THROMBOSIS AND PULMONARY EMBOLISM.


THIS DRUG HAS DEMONSTRATED A SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED RISK OF DEEP VENOUS THROMBOSIS (DVT) AND PULMONARY EMBOLISM (PE) IN PATIENTS WITH MULTIPLE MYELOMA WHO WERE TREATED WITH REVLIMID ® (lenalidomide) COMBINATION THERAPY. PATIENTS AND PHYSICIANS ARE ADVISED TO BE OBSERVANT FOR THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF THROMBOEMBOLISM. PATIENTS SHOULD BE INSTRUCTED TO SEEK MEDICAL CARE IF THEY DEVELOP SYMPTOMS SUCH AS SHORTNESS OF BREATH, CHEST PAIN, OR ARM OR LEG SWELLING. IT IS NOT KNOWN WHETHER PROPHYLACTIC ANTICOAGULATION OR ANTIPLATELET THERAPY PRESCRIBED IN CONJUNCTION WITH REVLIMID ® (lenalidomide) MAY LESSEN THE POTENTIAL FOR VENOUS THROMBOEMBOLIC EVENTS. THE DECISION TO TAKE PROPHYLACTIC MEASURES SHOULD BE DONE CAREFULLY AFTER AN ASSESSMENT OF AN INDIVIDUAL PATIENT’S UNDERLYING RISK FACTORS.

You can get the information about REVLIMID ® (lenalidomide) and the RevAssist ® program on the Internet at www.REVLIMID.com : or by calling the manufacturer’s toll-free number at 1-888-423-5436.


ADDITIONAL WARNINGS: HEMATOLOGIC TOXICITY

Multiple Myeloma


In the pooled multiple myeloma studies, Grade 3 and 4 hematologic toxicities were more frequent in patients treated with the combination of REVLIMID ® (lenalidomide) and dexamethasone than in patients treated with dexamethasone alone. Patients on therapy should have their complete blood counts monitored every 2 weeks for the first 12 weeks and then monthly thereafter. Patients may require dose interruption and/or dose reduction.



CONTRAINDICATIONS:



Hypersensitivity: REVLIMID ® (lenalidomide) is contraindicated in any patients who have demonstrated hypersensitivity to the drug or its components.



PRECAUTIONS:



Renal impairment: Since lenalidomide is primarily excreted unchanged by the kidney, adjustments to the starting dose of REVLIMID ® (lenalidomide) are recommended to provide appropriate drug exposure in patients with moderate or severe (CL_cr < 60 mL/min) renal impairment and in patients on dialysis. Because elderly patients are more likely to have decreased renal function, care should be taken in dose selection, and it would be prudent to monitor renal function.



Nursing mothers: It is not known whether REVLIMID ® (lenalidomide) is excreted in human milk. Because of the potential for adverse reactions in nursing infants, a decision should be made whether to discontinue nursing or the drug, taking into account the importance of the drug to the mother.



ADVERSE REACTIONS:

Multiple Myeloma


In the REVLIMID ® (lenalidomide)/dexamethasone treatment group, 151 patients (45%) underwent at least one dose interruption with or without a dose reduction of REVLIMID ® (lenalidomide) compared to 21% in the placebo/dexamethasone treatment group. Of these patients who had one dose interruption with or without a dose reduction, 50% in the REVLIMID ® (lenalidomide)/dexamethasone treatment group underwent at least one additional dose interruption with or without a dose reduction compared to 21% in the placebo/dexamethasone treatment group. Most adverse events and Grade 3/4 adverse events were more frequent in MM patients who received the combination of REVLIMID ® (lenalidomide)/dexamethasone compared to placebo/dexamethasone.



Other adverse events reported in multiple myeloma patients (REVLIMID ® (lenalidomide)/dexamethasone vs dexamethasone/placebo): constipation (39% vs 19%), fatigue (38% vs 37%), insomnia (32% vs 37%), muscle cramp (30% vs 21%), diarrhea (29% vs 25%), neutropenia (28% vs 5%), anemia (24% vs 17%), asthenia (23% vs 25%), pyrexia (23% vs 19%), nausea (22% vs 19%), headache (21% vs 21%), peripheral edema (21% vs 19%), dizziness (21% vs 15%), dyspnea (20% vs 15%), tremor (20% vs 7%), decreased weight (18% vs 14%), thrombocytopenia (17% vs 10%), rash (16% vs 8%), back pain (15% vs 14%), hyperglycemia (15% vs 14%), and muscle weakness (15% vs 15%).

Myelodysplastic Syndromes


Thrombocytopenia (61.5%; 91/148) and neutropenia (58.8%; 87/148) were the most frequently reported adverse events observed in the del 5q MDS population. Other adverse reactions reported in del 5q MDS patients (REVLIMID ® (lenalidomide)): diarrhea (49%), pruritus (42%), rash (36%), fatigue (31%), constipation (24%), nausea (24%), nasopharyngitis (23%), arthralgia (22%), pyrexia (21%), back pain (21%), peripheral edema (20%), cough (20%), dizziness (20%), headache (20%), muscle cramp (18%), dyspnea (17%), and pharyngitis (16%).



DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION:

Dosing is continued or modified based upon clinical and laboratory findings. Dosing modifications are recommended to manage Grade 3 or 4 neutropenia or thrombocytopenia or other Grade 3 or 4 toxicity judged to be related to REVLIMID ® (lenalidomide). For other Grade 3 or 4 toxicities judged to be related to REVLIMID ® (lenalidomide), hold treatment and restart at next lower dose level when toxicity has resolved to less than or equal to Grade 2.



Please see full Prescribing Information, including Boxed WARNINGS, CONTRAINDICATIONS, PRECAUTIONS, and ADVERSE REACTIONS.



About Multiple Myeloma

Multiple myeloma (also known as myeloma or plasma cell myeloma) is a cancer of the blood in which malignant plasma cells are overproduced in the bone marrow. Plasma cells are white blood cells that help produce antibodies called immunoglobulins that fight infection and disease.

However, most patients with multiple myeloma have cells that produce a form of immunoglobulin called paraprotein (or M protein) that does not benefit the body. In addition, the malignant plasma cells replace normal plasma cells and other white blood cells important to the immune system.

Multiple myeloma cells can also attach to other tissues of the body, such as bone, and produce tumors. The cause of the disease remains unknown.



About Celgene Corporation

Celgene Corporation, headquartered in Summit, New Jersey, is an integrated global biopharmaceutical company engaged primarily in the discovery, development and commercialization of novel therapies for the treatment of cancer and inflammatory diseases through gene and protein regulation. For more information, please visit the company’s Web site at www.celgene.com : .

This release contains certain forward-looking statements which involve known and unknown risks, delays, uncertainties and other factors not under the Company's control, which may cause actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from the results, performance or other expectations implied by these forward-looking statements. These factors include results of current or pending research and development activities, actions by the FDA and other regulatory authorities, and those factors detailed in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission such as 10K, 10Q and 8K reports.

Celgene CorporationDavid W. Gryska, 908-673-9059Senior Vice
President andChief Financial OfficerorBrian P. Gill,

908-673-9530Vice President,Corporate Communications