Dr. Saad Usmani on Daratumumab Monotherapy for Multiple Myeloma

Saad Z. Usmani, MD, director, Clinical Research Hematologic Malignancies, director, Plasma Cell Disorders, Levine Cancer Institute/Carolinas Healthcare System, discusses daratumumab for patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma.

Daratumumab monotherapy is being investigated as part of the ongoing phase II MMY2002 study. Results from the study, presented at the 2015 ASCO Annual Meeting, demonstrated a 65% 1-year overall survival rate and a 29.2% objective response rate in patients with double refractory heavily pretreated multiple myeloma..

The study has given community oncologists an effective monoclonal antibody for multiple myeloma that can be safely used for patients that have not had success with approved drugs, says Usmani. .

Because the drug has a positive safety profile, it is a good candidate for pairing with other therapies. Daratumumab combinations are currently being investigated to determine if responses and outcomes for patients with myeloma can be improved without adding the burden of additional side effects, says Usmani. .