FDA expands Velcade approval to include multiple myeloma

NEW YORK The Food and Drug Administration has expanded approval for Takeda Pharmaceutical’s cancer drug Velcade for the treatment of multiple myeloma, a rare blood cancer, Takeda announced Friday.

The FDA approved Velcade in 2006 for the treatment of mantle cell lymphoma, also a blood cancer. Multiple myeloma causes an excess of plasma cells to develop, threatening the body’s immune system.

Velcade, known generically as bortezomib, had worldwide sales of $765 million last year, according to Bloomberg. Takeda acquired the rights to the drug through its May purchase of its maker, Cambridge, Mass.-based Millennium Pharmaceuticals. Takeda is based on Osaka, Japan.