European regulators approved Amgen’s potential blockbuster drug Kyprolis on July 4 as a treatment for multiple myeloma.

The European Commission approved a treatment of Kyprolis and dexamethasone in patients who’ve received at least one previous multiple myeloma treatment. In November, the commission approved a Kyprolis treatment using lenalidomide and dexamethasone for patients who’ve received at least one prior treatment.

Multiple myeloma is a form of blood cancer that forms in plasma cells and typically grows in bone marrow. Thousand Oaks-based Amgen said in a news release that 39,000 Europeans are diagnosed with multiple myeloma each year and 24,000 patients die from the disease.

In January, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration also approved Kyprolis for use with dexamethasone or with lenalidomide for patients who have received at least one previous treatment.

During the first quarter, Kyprolis had $129 million in U.S. sales. Amgen said sales in the rest of the world were $25 million during the quarter.

• Contact Philip Joens at pjoens@pacbiztimes.com.