MMRF Accelerator Magazine Winter 2016 Edition | Page 4

2 0 1 6 A S H The MMRF makes a splash at ASH Record-breaking 19 research presentations from The MMRF CoMMpass StudySM data at ASH T he CoMMpass data is becoming the data set of choice for researchers across the globe, validating the importance of publically available data, championed by the MMRF. This collaborative research effort is accelerating actionable insights and the pace of drug discovery and development. The CoMMpass Study data is already yielding insights into new targets and pathways for drug development, as well as new ways to identify and potentially treat high-risk patients. Which multiple myeloma patients are at “high risk” for early relapse? Determining which patients relapse quickly (less than 18 months) after 4 starting their first line of therapy will allow doctors to follow these patients closely so that they can receive the appropriate treatment. Three research groups have identified sets of genes and pathways that are associated with an increased chance of early disease progression David Siegel, MD, PhD following treatment. Chief, Division of Multiple Myeloma Some of these gene John Theurer Cancer Center defects could be treated with drugs currently being used for other cancers, while others are new targets for the next generation this very question. These initiatives will of anti-myeloma drugs. Because the use the CoMMpass data to identify identification of high-risk patients is so common characteristics among patients important, the MMRF highlighted at who are high risk so that more tailored ASH the initiation of two crowdsourcing treatment strategies can be pursued. initiatives, HBS/TopCoders and SAGE/ Dream, which will seek input from researchers around the globe to answer T H E M M R F.ORG