Multiple Myeloma

There are now highly effective therapies to treat newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (MM), but it will still take time for them to be adopted in practice, said Chakra Chaulagain MD, FACP, hematologist/oncologist, Maroone Cancer Center of Cleveland Clinic Florida.

Response rates are important when choosing between therapies to treat multiple myeloma (MM), but improvement overall survival (OS) is the ideal, said Chakra Chaulagain MD, FACP, hematologist/oncologist, Maroone Cancer Center of Cleveland Clinic Florida.

While there is, rightfully, a lot of optimism around the latest treatments for newly diagnosed multiple myeloma, not everyone is gaining the same benefit, said Kenneth Shain, MD, PhD, of H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center.

New data has shown the benefits of adding a CD38 monoclonal antibody onto the standard 3-drug regimen for patients with newly diagnosed, transplant-eligible multiple myeloma (MM).

For transplant-ineligible patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma, the evidence now supports the use of 3-drug regimens instead of 2-drug regimens.

Joshua Richter, MD, assistant professor of medicine in The Tisch Cancer Institute, Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, explains how the concept of cancer stage does not mean the same thing in multiple myeloma as it does in other cancers, why cytogenetics matter, and new data from trials involving quadruplet therapy.

Ray Bailey, BPharm, RPh, senior vice president of Pharmacy Services for Florida Cancer Specialists (FCS) Pharmacy Services operations, spoke with The American Journal of Managed Care® (AJMC®) just after the conclusion of the 63rd American Society of Hematology Meeting & Exposition, which took place December 11-14, 2021.

Joseph Mikhael, MD, of the Translational Genomics Research Institute in Phoenix, Arizona, an affiliate of City of Hope, spoke with The American Journal of Managed Care® about the increased use of triplet therapy to treat this disease.

Bhavesh Shah, RPh, BCOP, associate chief pharmacy officer for Specialty and Hematology Pharmacy at Boston Medical Center (BMC), spoke with The American Journal of Managed Care® (AJMC®) about the several current issues in multiple myeloma, including the use of anti-CD38 agents and risk stratification of patients.