THOUSAND OAKS, Calif.,
July 18, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --
Amgen (NASDAQ:AMGN) today announced the launch of Myeloma
MVPTM, a national campaign to help those affected by
multiple myeloma create their Most Valuable Plan, an individualized
approach for managing their disease. Multiple myeloma is an
incurable blood cancer for which there are a variety of treatment
options, requiring patients to work closely with their doctors to
determine the right plan to meet their needs.
Multiple myeloma has hit home for the baseball community in
recent years, which is why Amgen is partnering with former Major
League Baseball (MLB) All-Stars Dave
Winfield and Steve Garvey,
who have both been touched by multiple myeloma, to encourage
patients to play a proactive role in their care by developing an
individualized treatment plan. Former MLB All-Star Don Baylor passed away from multiple myeloma in
2017 following a 14-year battle with the disease. Baylor's son,
Don Baylor Jr., is honoring his
father's legacy by also participating in the campaign and raising
awareness of multiple myeloma.
"I knew Don Baylor for nearly 40
years from our playing days. He was my teammate, a groomsman in my
wedding and one of my best friends," said Winfield. "On the field,
as a player, coach and manager, he always had a plan in approaching
the day's game. Off the field, he took the same approach in
managing his multiple myeloma. I'm honored to work with Amgen on
Myeloma MVP to help raise awareness of this incurable blood
cancer and encourage patients to create a plan for managing their
disease."
The multiple myeloma treatment landscape has evolved
significantly over the past decade, changing the expectations of
physicians and patients. In order to create the right plan,
patients need to have a voice in their treatment. Doctors should be
aware of their patients' priorities and treatment goals, which may
include attending an upcoming wedding or continuing a favorite
outdoor activity while receiving treatment, or generally living as
long as possible.
The Myeloma MVP guide, available at MyelomaExplained.com,
asks a series of questions to help patients think through their
priorities before their next oncology appointment, so they can work
with their doctor to create the best plan for them.
As part of the campaign, Amgen is working closely with the
multiple myeloma patient research and advocacy community, including
the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF), the International
Myeloma Foundation (IMF) and Myeloma Crowd, to raise awareness with
patients and caregivers. Amgen will also work with MLB to recognize
local multiple myeloma communities at select games during the 2018
season.
"My dad went through cycles of remission and relapse and
experienced weakness in his bones, but he didn't let multiple
myeloma stop him from doing what he loved every day. He coached in
the big leagues for 12 years after his diagnosis," said Baylor Jr.
"What I learned from my dad's experience is that while multiple
myeloma is complex, feeling empowered to work with your doctor to
develop the right strategy can help manage the disease. I look
forward to working with Amgen, Dave and Steve to help bring
awareness to this new tool for patients."
"Don Baylor was a dear personal
friend and a tremendous advocate for multiple myeloma
patients. Don worked tirelessly to build awareness, promote
research and educate patients about this disease. We are so
proud to see members of the baseball community continue his
wonderful legacy," said Paul Giusti,
president and chief executive officer of the MMRF. "At the
MMRF, we understand the importance of patients and caregivers being
educated, empowered and taking an active role in their
treatment. We are pleased to be involved with such an
important project."
The Myeloma MVP guide is available now on Amgen's new
patient education website, MyelomaExplained.com, along with
additional information and resources for patients living with this
disease, including:
- Multiple myeloma FAQ: Frequently asked questions about the
disease, including signs and symptoms, risk factors and more.
- Management options: What to expect following a diagnosis, as
well as treatment and supportive care information.
- Understanding your treatment: Tips and questions to help
facilitate a productive conversation with your physician.
- Team video: A shareable video featuring Winfield, Garvey and
Baylor Jr., intended to broaden awareness of the campaign and need
for patients to create a plan.
"Myeloma MVP is an important initiative for Amgen, as we
continue to focus on finding new and innovative ways to help
patients living with multiple myeloma," said Robert Cuddihy, M.D., vice president of U.S.
Medical at Amgen. "Based on our own research, we've seen a
disconnect between patient goals and treatment decisions. This
program provides a tool that helps both patients and physicians
create a plan together to better manage their disease."
About Dave
Winfield
Twelve-time MLB All-Star and Hall-of-Famer
Dave Winfield knows the impact
multiple myeloma can have on a patient all too well. In 2017, his
close friend and former teammate Don
Baylor passed away following a 14-year battle with the
disease. Together, with Don's son, Don Jr., Dave is committed to
helping raise awareness of this incurable blood cancer.
About Steve
Garvey
Steve Garvey is
a 10-time MLB All-Star and former World Series champion. He saw
firsthand the impact of multiple myeloma when his father-in-law was
diagnosed and later passed away from the disease. A former prostate
cancer patient himself, Steve is urging patients to play an active
role in their treatment by creating a plan for managing multiple
myeloma.
About Don Baylor
Jr.
Don Baylor Jr. is
the son of former MLB player and coach Don
Baylor, who passed away following a 14-year battle with
multiple myeloma. Following his diagnosis, Don Sr. worked hard to
raise awareness and fund to help fight this incurable disease. Don
Jr. has partnered with Amgen to build on his father's work.
About Amgen's Commitment to Oncology
Amgen Oncology is
committed to helping patients take on some of the toughest cancers,
such as those that have been resistant to drugs, those that
progress rapidly through the body and those where limited treatment
options exist. Amgen's supportive care treatments help patients
combat certain side effects of strong chemotherapy, and our
targeted medicines and immunotherapies focus on more than a dozen
different malignancies, ranging from blood cancers to solid tumors.
With decades of experience providing therapies for cancer patients,
Amgen continues to grow its portfolio of innovative and biosimilar
oncology medicines.
For more information, follow us on
www.twitter.com/amgenoncology.
About Amgen
Amgen is committed to unlocking
the potential of biology for patients suffering from serious
illnesses by discovering, developing, manufacturing and delivering
innovative human therapeutics. This approach begins by using tools
like advanced human genetics to unravel the complexities of disease
and understand the fundamentals of human biology.
Amgen focuses on areas of high unmet medical need and
leverages its expertise to strive for solutions that improve health
outcomes and dramatically improve people's lives. A biotechnology
pioneer since 1980, Amgen has grown to be one of the
world's leading independent biotechnology companies, has reached
millions of patients around the world and is developing a pipeline
of medicines with breakaway potential.
For more information, visit www.amgen.com and follow
us on www.twitter.com/amgen.
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CONTACT:
Amgen, Thousand Oaks
Andrea Fassacesia, 805-905-2575
(Media)
Kristen Davis, 805-447-3008
(Media)
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