Daratumumab Lengthens PFS in Multiple Myeloma, but Increases Risk of Neutropenia

Although daratumumab reduced the risk of disease progression and death for patients with multiple myeloma, the drug was associated with a higher rate of neutropenia, according to a study published in a New England Journal of Medicine.

Researchers assigned 498 patients with relapsed or relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma to receive bortezomib and dexamethasone alone or in combination of daratumumab.

“Among patients with relapsed or relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma, daratumumab in combination with bortezomib and dexamethasone resulted in significantly longer progression-free survival than bortezomib and dexamethasone alone and was associated with infusion-related reactions and higher rates of thrombocytopenia and neutropenia than bortezomib and dexamethasone alone,” the researchers concluded.

Neutropenia was one of the most common grade 3 or 4 adverse events reported in both groups. However, despite being a common adverse event in both group, the rate was much higher in the daratumumab group.

In the group that received daratumumab, 12.8% reported neutropenia compared with just 4.2% of the control group that received just bortezomib and dexamethasone alone.

However, the 12-month rate of progression-free survival was 60.7% in the daratumumab group compared with just 26.9% in the control group.