Daratumumab Plus Pomalidomide Significantly Benefits Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma

New data presented at the American Society of Hematology (ASH) 2020 Annual Meeting showed subcutaneous daratumumab plus pomalidomide significantly reduced progression-free survival and mortality risk in more than one-third of patients with relapsed refractory multiple myeloma.

The phase 3 APOLLO findings, presented by an international team of investigators sponsored by Janssen Research and Development, evidenced the benefit of the combined therapy regimen for previously-treated patients with the relapse form of multiple myeloma—particularly in efficacy and tolerability measures versus comparator pomalidomide plus dexamethasone.

The new results add to the large phase 3 portfolio of daratumumab for the added or lone treatment of multiple myeloma, this time in a patient population with limited treatment options.

In an interview with HCPLive during ASH 2020, Mark Wildgust, PhD, vice president of Global Medical Affairs - Oncology for Janssen, discussed the APOLLO findings and their contribution to the understood clinical benefit of daratumumab.

"I think broadly now, that we’ve seen whenever we add daratumumab to the standard of care, whatever that may be, we seem to see a significant improvement in progression-free survival and improving depth of response,” he said.

That said, the major outcome in these findings remain there being a more assured and tolerable therapeutic option for this particular population of multiple myeloma patients.

“In those patients in that relapse setting, we need something more—particularly in those patients who are lenalidomide refractory, what do we do next?” Wildgust explained.

The study, “412 Apollo: Phase 3 Randomized Study of Subcutaneous Daratumumab Plus Pomalidomide and Dexamethasone (D-Pd) Versus Pomalidomide and Dexamethasone (Pd) Alone in Patients (Pts) with Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma (RRMM),” was presented at ASH 2020.