Exploring Promising Novel Advances in the Multiple Myeloma Treatment Landscape

Joshua Richter, MD, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine - Mount Sinai, New York, discusses promising upcoming advances in the multiple myeloma treatment landscape, including the use of T-cell redirection therapy and possible treatment approvals to come.

Transcript:

Dr. Richter: Hello, my name is Dr. Joshua Richter. I'm an associate professor of medicine at the Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, and the director of myeloma at the The Blavatnik Family Chelsea Medical Center at Mount Sinai. 

Lymphoma, Leukemia & Myeloma Network: What updates or advances are you particularly looking forward to in the multiple myeloma treatment landscape?

Dr. Richter: So, 2024 is a really exciting year for myeloma, especially in the realm of T-cell redirection therapy. In the end of March, we had an [Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee] (ODAC) meeting where we saw [idecabtagene vicleucel] (ABECMA) and [ciltacabtagene autoleucel] (CARVYKTI) be both presented to the ODAC for consideration of use and early line therapy. Both received positive votes, and hopefully by the time this is being watched, one, if not both therapies are approved in early-line therapy for myeloma. Very, very exciting. 

At the end of [20]23, we saw the acceptance of the [Biologics License Application] (BLA) to the [Food and Drug Administration] (FDA) for linvoseltamab. So, fingers crossed, we will have that additional T-cell redirection therapy approved later this year.

Lymphoma, Leukemia & Myeloma Network: What would this possible approval mean for patients?

Dr. Richter: It simply means yet another avenue of drugs that can be used, and although very difficult to compare trial to trial, linvaseltumab in the realm of the bispecifics, specifically the [B-cell maturation antigen] (BCMA) bispecific, as opposed to some of the highest response rates and some of the best toxicity profiles. Furthermore, it actually has built into the protocol of the BCMA bispecific planned dose extension out to Q4 week dosing. 

Although some of the other bispecifics have achieved approval, they are currently only approved to be either given weekly or weekly eventually to every other week with extrapolation being done at the bedside into monthly dosing. However, with linvaseltumab, once patients reached week 24 of dosing, if they had a [very good partial response] (VGPR) or better, when they were given the 200 milligram dosing, they were able to do that [and] revert to a Q4 week dosing which is much better for quality of life for patients who are maintained on long-term therapy.