A third of patients with incurable blood cancer are in complete remission after trialling a new drug, a Melbourne haematologist says.

A new drug trial has produced "excellent" results for Australian patients with an incurable blood cancer, with many expected to go into remission.

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One third of the 15 multiple myeloma patients taking part in the Daratumumab drug trial have already gone into complete remission, said haematologist Dr Hang Quach.

Melbourne's St Vincents hospital is one of four Australian facilities involved in a global clinical trial which she says has shown very promising results.

"Not only have my patients gone into remission, they have gone into a deep remission and in a very timely fashion," she told AAP.
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All of them had a positive response, with their cancer being reduced, within four to eight weeks.

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"There's a complete response after about eight to 12 weeks which is quite astounding really," she said.

Now in phase-three trials, Daratumumab made its debut in 2013, receiving breakthrough therapy designation by the FDA in the United States.

Daratumumab is a monoclonal antibody that binds to a protein known as CD38, which is commonly found on the surface of myeloma cells.

Once bound to a myeloma cell, the drug then attacks the cell while also signalling the patient's immune system to act against the cells.

St Vincents started its trial about a year ago, with half the patients coming from country Victoria.

"Our longest patient has been on it for 10 to 12 months and she is doing very well and in complete remission," Dr Quach said.

The drug has avoided the toxic side effects of chemotherapy such as nausea or loss of hair.

"Our elderly patients tolerate the drug very well and they maintain an excellent quality of life."

Dr Quach said the trial was due to close very soon, lamenting that "there will be no way I can then access this type of drug for my patients" until, or if, it gets TGA approval.

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