New and emerging pharmacotherapies for the management of multiple myeloma

Am J Health Syst Pharm. 2022 Jul 8;79(14):1137-1145. doi: 10.1093/ajhp/zxac091.

Abstract

Purpose: The pharmacology, efficacy, safety, and dosing/administration of new and emerging therapies for the treatment of multiple myeloma are summarized.

Summary: There have been significant advancements in the treatment of multiple myeloma in recent years, with an expansion of available drug therapies. Newer therapies for multiple myeloma include the anti-CD38 monoclonal antibodies daratumumab and isatuximab, the exportin 1 inhibitor selinexor, the anti-B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA) antibody-drug conjugate belantamab mafodotin, and the chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy idecabtagene vicleucel. These agents have unique toxicity profiles, specific monitoring parameters, and operational considerations that clinicians treating multiple myeloma should be aware of. There is likely to be continued rapid expansion of new agents for patients with multiple myeloma, as there are many novel investigational agents in the drug development pipeline, such as bispecific antibodies and additional CAR T-cell therapies.

Conclusion: Several therapeutic agents have been recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of multiple myeloma. There are many novel agents in the pipeline, including bispecific antibodies and CAR T-cell therapies that have the potential to continue to change the treatment landscape of multiple myeloma.

Keywords: CAR T-cell therapy; bispecific antibodies; monoclonal antibodies; multiple myeloma.

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Bispecific*
  • Antineoplastic Agents* / therapeutic use
  • B-Cell Maturation Antigen / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Multiple Myeloma* / drug therapy
  • Receptors, Chimeric Antigen

Substances

  • Antibodies, Bispecific
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • B-Cell Maturation Antigen
  • Receptors, Chimeric Antigen
  • idecabtagene vicleucel