Marta Figueiredo, PhD, science writer —

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted orphan drug designation to Nammi Therapeutics’ lead immunotherapy candidate QXL138AM for multiple myeloma. The first-in-class therapy is designed to kill targeted cancer cells without the “significant toxicities” of other treatments also based on the interferon-alpha (INF-alpha) protein, Nammi…

Researchers in Japan have identified an antibody that binds to a myeloma-specific form of a common cell surface protein, called CD98 heavy chain, and that prolongs survival when given to a mouse model of multiple myeloma. The findings were detailed in the study, “Selective targeting of…

Even if they’re fully vaccinated, multiple myeloma patients still have an increased risk of COVID-19 infection compared with people without cancer, according to a study looking at data from more than 500,000 individuals in the U.S. Called breakthrough infections, these post-vaccination illnesses from SARS-CoV-2 — the virus that causes…

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has given fast track designation to Harpoon Therapeutics’ HPN217 as a potential immunotherapy for people with relapsed, refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) who have tried at least four prior therapies. Fast track status is given to therapies that show potential in addressing serious conditions for…

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the CAR T-cell therapy Carvykti (ciltacabtagene autoleucel) — formerly known as cilta-cel — for certain adults with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma. In particular, the approval makes Carvykti available for people who have received at least four prior lines…

Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare has approved Abecma (idecabtagene vicleucel) as its first CAR T-cell therapy for adults with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma who received at least three prior therapies. This includes patients treated at least with one immunomodulatory drug (IMiD), one proteasome inhibitor…

Janssen is seeking the approval of its investigational therapy teclistamab in the U.S. for people with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM). “Despite all the gains that have been made in treating multiple myeloma, the unmet need still remains very high,” Peter Lebowitz, MD, PhD, global therapeutic area…

China’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) has conditionally approved a combination of Xpovio (selinexor) and the corticosteroid dexamethasone to treat adults with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) who received at least three prior therapies. This includes patients whose disease failed to respond to at least one immunomodulatory…

The optimal dosing of tasquinimod, Active Biotech’s experimental oral therapy for adults with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma, has been determined in a Phase 1b/2a clinical trial. Now, that dose and schedule will be tested, along with the standard oral combination treatment, in the trial’s second phase, the…

After promising early results, a sub-study of the DREAMM-5 platform trial is moving forward to its next phase to test a combination of Blenrep (belantamab mafodotin) with nirogacestat in adults with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma. In addition, two sub-studies will be added to the trial (…