Dr. Paner on HORIZON Trial in Multiple Myeloma

Agne Paner, MD, director, Multiple Myeloma and Amyloidosis Program, Rush University Medical Center, discusses the phase II HORIZON trial in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma.

Patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma have an unmet medical need. Very few treatment options are available for those who are triple-refractory, says Paner; these patients are refractory to proteasome inhibitors, immunomodulatory agents, and monoclonal antibodies. However, melflufen is a novel alkylator that is showing promise in this space.

In the ongoing phase II HORIZON trial (NCT02963493), patients with relapsed/refractory disease were treated with melflufen plus dexamethasone. Interim data showed an overall response rate of 28% with a clinical benefit rate of 40%, adds Paner. The median progression-free survival with the melflufen combination was 4 months with a median overall survival approaching close to 1 year, says Paner.

Thirty-six percent of patients had received 3 or more treatment regimens over the last 12 months. Furthermore, 91% of patients were classified as double-refractory, while 74% were determined to be triple class—refractory.