2020 Year in Review - Multiple Myeloma

BELLINI was a phase 3, randomized, double-blind, multicenter study designed to investigate the efficacy and safety of venetoclax + bortezomib + dexamethasone versus bortezomib + dexamethasone in patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM).

Encouraging and well-tolerated treatment efficacy was shown in patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) in this analysis of updated efficacy and safety data from the ANCHOR study of melphalan flufenamide (melflufen) plus dexamethasone and daratumumab or bortezomib.

Patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) who have had ≥2 prior lines of therapy, including an immunomodulatory drug (IMiD) and a proteasome inhibitor (PI), and who were refractory to pomalidomide and/or an anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody were evaluated in a phase 2 single-arm, multicenter study known as HORIZON.

Based on a phase 2 trial, interim results exploring the response to ixazomib, lenalidomide, and dexamethasone (IRd) induction followed by a single autologous stem-cell transplantation (ASCT), IRd consolidation, and risk-based maintenance found a 93% overall response rate (ORR).

TOURMALINE-MM4 is an international, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 study that examined the efficacy and safety profile of oral ixazomib as maintenance therapy in patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (NDMM) who have not undergone stem-cell transplantation after initial treatment and its impact on progression-free survival (PFS) compared with those taking placebo.

The randomized FORTE trial showed that patients who were newly diagnosed with transplant-eligible multiple myeloma (MM) experienced significantly improved progression-free survival (PFS) with carfilzomib plus lenalidomide-dexamethasone (KRd) induction-ASCT-KRd consolidation versus either 12 KRd cycles or carfilzomib plus cyclophosphamide-dexamethasone (KCd) induction-ASCT-KCd consolidation.

Comparing consolidation treatment with bortezomib + lenalidomide + dexamethasone (VRD) followed by lenalidomide maintenance with lenalidomide maintenance alone, the former approach was superior regarding progression-free survival (PFS) and myeloma response in patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (MM) with an acceptable toxicity profile.

This multicenter, retrospective, real-world study (GEM-POMCIDEX) was initiated to evaluate the effectiveness of the guidelines established by the Spanish Myeloma Group (PETHEMA) to treat appropriate patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) with pomalidomide, cyclophosphamide, and dexamethasone (POMCIDEX).

Poor response on subsequent therapies is typically seen in patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) who have had 3 prior lines of therapy with immunomodulatory drugs (IMiDs), proteasome inhibitors (PIs), and anti-CD38 monoclonal antibodies. In addition, challenges for future treatment options are presented.

Recent studies have illustrated complete response (CR) rates >50% for transplant-eligible patients with multiple myeloma (MM) treated with optimized induction followed by high-dose therapy (HDT) and autologous stem-cell transplantation (ASCT). However, many patients relapse early. Patients who relapse are generally thought to have very low survival rates.