UAMS Myeloma Institute Receives $10 Million Gift From Celgene Corp.

The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Myeloma Institute has received a $10 million gift from Celgene Corp. to create the Bart Barlogie Center for Molecular Diagnostics and the establishment of the Celgene Distinguished Endowed Chair in Molecular Therapeutics.

Barlogie was the long-time director of UAMS’ Myeloma Institute and still conducts clinical care and research at the cancer center.

“This is an exciting, new collaboration between the Myeloma Institute and Celgene, bringing together leading institutions for consummate innovation in myeloma research,” said Dr. Gareth Morgan, current director of the institute. “There has been a 57% increase in the total number of myeloma survivors since 2001 as a result of medical innovation. This is encouraging news for myeloma patients and our health care system but we can and must do better. The Bart Barlogie Center creates an exciting opportunity for the next generation of revolutionary transformation in myeloma care.”

The myeloma program at UAMS has seen more than 11,000 patients from every state in the U.S. and more than 50 foreign countries and has performed more than 9,000 peripheral blood stem cell transplants.

“The use and refinement of genomics and other novel diagnostic tools will enable development of precision medicine strategies aimed at targeting the distinct genetic signals that affect each patient’s disease. Through a deeper understanding of the molecular changes that take place in myeloma, the Myeloma Institute will be better equipped to identify the most appropriate drug therapies that will produce the best outcomes with minimal toxicity and that will make a cure truly achievable for the majority of patients,” Morgan said.

At a ceremony today at UAMS, Gov. Asa Hutchinson thanked Celgene for supporting UAMS and the state of Arkansas.

“A shared compassion for myeloma patients and their care along with a commitment to innovation in that care has been the foundation of a vital, long-lasting partnership between Celgene and the Myeloma Institute,” Hutchinson said.

“Celgene’s contribution to the UAMS Myeloma Institute reflects our continuing commitment to advance transformational science, deliver life-enhancing medicines and serve patients with multiple myeloma the world over,” said Bob Hugin, chairman and CEO of Celgene Corp. “Barlogie and his colleagues fundamentally changed the course of the disease and its effects through new diagnostic procedures and therapeutic interventions. Celgene has been happy to work with him for many years, and we wanted to acknowledge his achievement in a lasting and meaningful way with this center.”

Headquartered in Summit, New Jersey, Celgene Corp. is an integrated global biopharmaceutical company engaged primarily in the discovery, development and delivery of innovative therapies for the treatment of cancer and inflammatory diseases through gene and protein regulation.