Myeloma Center Focuses on Immunotherapy Drugs in Latest Clinical Trials
| Multiple myeloma treatment is advancing with the advent of bispecific antibody drugs, which use the patient’s T cells to fight the disease. Myeloma Center physicians and researchers Carolina Schinke, M.D., and Samer Al Hadidi, M.D., M.S., are leading clinical trials exploring combinations of these novel therapies.
Schinke’s trial is studying the effects of using teclistamab and talquetamab in combination. Al Hadidi’s trial looks at daratumumab, Revlimid and Velcade used with dexamethasone, a steroid.
“Current FDA approval is for either talquetamab and teclistamab,” said Schinke. “Both have excellent and unprecedented results for those with relapsed refractory myeloma. The only patient population that does not respond well to either of these drugs are those with extramedullary disease, where the myeloma has progressed out of the bone marrow to other organs.
“In this trial we’re combining both of these drugs to see if the combination is more successful in treating patients with extramedullary disease. Myeloma has been historically difficult to treat once it is outside of the bone marrow,” Schinke added.
Al Hadidi is working with three combinations of drugs for newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients who may need a different treatment plan than typically prescribed.
“These regimens are for patients where stem cell transplants may not be viable,” Al Hadidi said. “These patients are older or frailer, and previously they had fewer options.”
One treatment Al Hadidi is studying uses RVd (Revlimid, Velcade, dexamethasone). Two of the potential treatments use a combination of daratumumab, Revlimid and dexamethasone, with the difference being the patient receiving only Revlimid in the maintenance phase in one and daratumumab and Revlimid in the other.
“We’re trying see if one of the three protocols will be better at controlling the disease and reducing side effects,” said Al Hadidi.
Clinical trials are a vital part of research, and the Myeloma Center continues to be a leader in multiple myeloma treatment.