Through its Myeloma Investment Fund, the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF) has invested $1 million in novel CAR T-cell technology from Dynamic Cell Therapies (DCT) that aims to better treat multiple myeloma. Backed by this investment, DCT remains on track to move a new CAR T-cell therapy into clinical testing in people with relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma over the next two years. “The support of the MMRF & the Myeloma Investment Fund provides key expertise that will enable us to hasten the development of novel and best-in-class CAR-T cell therapies for patients with rel ..read more

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) is once again running its Scenic Shore Bike Tour to raise awareness and support for people with blood cancers, including myeloma. Going on its 32nd edition and set to start July 27 in Mequon, Wisconsin, the annual Scenic Shore Bike Tour will support LLS’ campaign aimed at raising another $2 million or so for blood cancer research and patient aid and support. People of all ages from across the U.S. are invited to join one of three cycling routes — 25 miles, 75 miles, and the traditional 150 miles — to help support the work of the LLS. The 150-mile rout ..read more

Researchers in Germany have identified proteins that could help identify multiple myeloma patients who at high risk for an aggressive disease course and worse prognosis. Across a series of experiments, the scientists uncovered protein-level molecular changes that appeared specific to myeloma and correlated with disease progression patterns and myeloma stage. “Our findings will help subcategorize patients more effectively going forward, personalizing their treatment,” Jan Krönke, MD, one of the study’s senior authors and a professor at Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, said in a press releas ..read more

Pfizer’s Elrexfio (elranatamab) extends the lives of adults with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) who received at least two prior lines of therapy and whose cancer has worsened since their last treatment. Median overall survival was 24.6 months, or more than two years, according to data from the 123 RRMM patients who received Elrexfio as part of the first patient group in the ongoing Phase 2 MagnetisMM-3 trial (NCT04649359). The group included patients who hadn’t received treatment targeting B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA), a protein at the surface of myeloma cel ..read more

A Phase 3 clinical trial evaluating the safety and efficacy of AbbVie’s experimental therapy ABBV-383 in adults with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) has treated its first patient. Called CERVINO (NCT06158841), the study plans to enroll up to 380 patients, ages 18 and older, at 140 sites globally. For now, only four sites in Israel and one in Taiwan are recruiting patients, but U.S. sites may eventually open. Eligible patients must have received at least two lines of treatment, including a proteasome inhibitor, an immunomodulatory agent, and a CD38 inhibitor. Their Eastern Coope ..read more

A single infusion of the CAR T-cell therapy Carvykti (ciltacabtagene autoleucel) was sufficient to control disease activity in most multiple myeloma patients who hadn’t fully responded to a standard autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT). That’s according to new data from the 17 patients in cohort D of the Phase 2 CARITITUDE-2 clinical trial (NCT04133636), which tested Carvykti in different patient groups based on previous treatments. “We are excited to unveil these results from our CARTITUDE-2 cohort D study, which show the significant impact of Carvykti on multiple myeloma patients in the e ..read more

GSK‘s Blenrep (belantamab mafodotin) cut the risk of cancer progression nearly in half compared with bortezomib when used in combination with other therapies to treat multiple myeloma patients who’d had at least one previous disease relapse. The benefits of Blenrep, used in combination with Pomalyst (pomalidomide) and dexamethasone (PomDex), were observed across key patient subgroups, including those considered to have a poor prognosis. The data from the Phase 3 DREAMM-8 clinical trial (NCT04484623) are the second set of trial results to show that Blenrep is favorable to other standard-of-car ..read more

Once-weekly induction therapy with bortezomib is as efficient as the standard two times a week dosing in people newly diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a large retrospective real-world study suggests. No differences were seen between both regimens regarding survival overall and the time patients lived without disease progression, but the once a week schedule was linked to fewer side effects, namely peripheral neuropathy, wherein the nerves outside the brain and spinal cord are damaged. The findings support “the incorporation of once-weekly bortezomib into standard-of-care regimens for newly di ..read more

Arcellx and Kite Pharma are planning to launch a Phase 3 clinical trial, dubbed iMMagine-3, to test their cell therapy anitocabtagene autoleucel (anito-cel) in people with hard-to-treat multiple myeloma. “We are pleased to start the Phase 3 pivotal trial, iMMagine-3, in the second half of this year given the tremendous unmet need that remains in patients with relapsed and/or refractory multiple myeloma,” Cindy Perettie, executive vice president of Kite, said in a press release from both companies, which are co-developing anito-cel. iMMagine-3 aims to enroll up to 450 adults with relapsed and ..read more

NXC-201, an investigational CAR T-cell therapy, has been designated an orphan drug in the European Union (EU) as a potential treatment of multiple myeloma. This status aims to speed the therapy’s clinical development by providing incentives that include reduced regulatory fees. It also gives access to the EU centralized authorization procedure, wherein the filing of one regulatory application covers all EU countries as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway. Should NXC-201 eventually be approved, it will be granted 10 years of market exclusivity under this designation. Recommended Reading ..read more