LLS Announces Two FDA Drug Approvals

Established in the late 1940s, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS) grew out of the desire of a family who lost their son to leukemia to develop a resource for other families dealing with the same issue. Years later, LLS has grown into a platform that funds research on blood cancers and is a resource for the general public. In late September 2023, LLS announced that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved two drugs that would improve treating patients with multiple myeloma and myelofibrosis.

The September 28, 2023, LLS press release announced that the FDA approved motixafortide (brand name Aphexda) to increase stem cells in patients with multiple myeloma. This type of cancer begins with tumors that grow from an abnormal plasma cell in the bone marrow. Researchers are unclear on how this cancer develops, with many attributing the cause to genetic abnormalities, bone marrow anomalies, or the environment.

Originally published at Medium on Dec. 19, 2023