Celgene Korea said Monday that it has got three additional indications for its multiple myeloma drug Revlimid (ingredient: lenalidomide) from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety.

Revlimid will be able to be used as maintenance therapy for newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients who have undergone autologous stem cell transplantation as well as to treat patients with mantle cell lymphoma and myelodysplastic syndrome.

"We are now able to provide optimal treatment for three areas - multiple myeloma, mantle cell lymphoma and myelodysplastic syndrome – thanks to R&D investment. We are very pleased to announce the expansion of indications for Revlimid for patients,” Celgene Korea CEO Ham Tae-jin said.

Meta-analysis of CALGB 100104, IFM 2005-02, GIMEMA RVMM-PI-209 trials and the MCL-002 and MDS-004 trials were used to evaluate the efficacy of the therapy for the three indications, according to Celgene Korea.

“Multiple myeloma treatments have improved greatly from the past, but the disease has a characteristic of recurrence, so even patients who’ve seen good responses from anticancer treatment remain worried,” said Professor Min Chang-ki from the Catholic University of Korea Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital Department of Hematology.

“In particular, most patients with multiple myeloma who have undergone autologous stem cell transplantation are likely to have a relapse or refractory cancer because of to the nature of the disease,” Min said. “The indication expansion for lenalidomide is expected to contribute greatly to prolonging survival time of patients with multiple myeloma by having immunomodulatory and anti-cancer effects for patients after they received hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.”