Dr. Wong on Antibody-Drug Conjugate Research in Multiple Myeloma

Sandy Wong, MD, assistant professor, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) School of Medicine, UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, discusses the ongoing research of antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) in multiple myeloma.

The ADC that is furthest along is belantamab mafodotin, which is directed against BCMA, explains Wong. Data from the phase I DREAMM-1 trial showed a response rate of 60% in heavily pretreated patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma. Additionally, the median progression-free survival was 12 months.

In January 2020, the FDA granted a priority review designation to belantamab mafodotin based on findings from the DREAMM-2 trial, which showed the drug had an overall response rate (ORR) of 31% in patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma who received the treatment at the recommended 2.5 mg/kg dose. The ORR in patients who received belantamab mafodotin at 3.4 mg/kg was 34%.

Belantamab mafodotin is associated with corneal toxicities, but it seems they are reversible with supportive care and withholding the drug, concludes Wong.