Talquetamab Plus Teclistamab Combination Therapy Demonstrates Durable Responses, High Infection Incidence for Patients With R/R MM
Bispecific antibodies, talquetamab and teclistamab, demonstrated durable responses but increased grade 3 or 4 infection rates when combined, compared to either therapy alone, for the treatment of patients with relapsed/refractory (R/R) multiple myeloma (MM), according to phase 1b-2 research published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Previous research has found talquetamab and teclistamab are both effective for the treatment of triple-class exposed R/R MM as they work to target CD3 and activate T cells. Researchers conducted a phase 1b-2 study of combined talquetamab and teclistamab to determine the safety and determine dose-limiting effects of the combination.
In this study, 94 patients were given a standard dose per body weight of talquetamab at 0.8 mg per kg and 0.3 per kg every other week. Regarding safety, 96% of patients experienced adverse events grade 3 or 4 and dose-limiting toxic effects occurred in 3 patients, of which 1 was grade 4 thrombocytopenia. Cytokine release syndrome, neutropenia, changes in taste, and skin events were the most common adverse events at all dose levels. Infections grade 3 or 4 were experienced by 64% of patients. Response to treatment occurred in 78% of patients with an estimated continuation at 18 months of 77%.
“The incidence of grade 3 or 4 infections with talquetamab plus teclistamab was higher than has been observed with either therapy alone,” the researchers concluded, adding, “a response was observed in a high percentage of patients across all dose levels, with durable responses with the recommended phase 2 regimen.”
Source:
Cohen YC, Magen H, Gatt M, et al. Talquetamab plus teclistamab in relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma. New England Journal of Medicine. Published online January 8, 2025. doi: 10.1056/nejmoa2406536
