BCMA-targeted immunotherapy can lead to durable responses in multiple myeloma

An experimental, off-the-shelf immunotherapy that combines a targeted antibody and chemotherapy can lead to potentially durable responses in multiple myeloma patients whose disease has relapsed or is resistant to other standard therapies. A multi-center, international trial evaluated the drug, belantamab mafodotin, and found almost a third of patients whose disease had returned after other therapies achieved a partial response or better when treated with this therapy, which targets the B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA). Data from 196 patients on the trial, called DREAMM-2, have been submitted to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for consideration for approval. The findings were published in Lancet Oncology today.