Top 10 by impressions - click to view on X
The 4 big myeloma randomized trials to watch out for @ASCO #ASCO24 1. Isa-VRd vs Isa-Rd newly diagnosed 2.Isa-VRd vs VRd (IMROZ) 3.DREAMM8 Bela-Pd vs Pd 4.Ven Dex vs Pom...
The comparison of two manuscripts @NEJM showcasing Belantamab's superiority over other anti-myeloma treatments in a head-to-head comparison is widely considered the...
2) Belantamab will make a comeback. Corneal toxicity is low with reduced frequency dosing. The drug works very well. And in many patients with refractory myeloma belantamab may be safer and easier...
Looking forward to the #ASCO24! Here are the lists for five #mmsm abstracts for @OncoAlert: 1- DREAMM-8 belantamab plus pomalidomide/dex (BPd) vs PVd in...
2 NEJM papers for $GSK belamaf @ #ASCO24, respect I bashed that drug a lot (still think its utility gonna be nullified by bispecs) but for now, I just have to shut my...
This is the trial they should have done originally for the initial phase III confirmatory study in relapsed/refractory #myeloma as opposed to the nightmarish DREAMM-3.
Myeloma is full of surprises: EXHIBIT A: Canova EXHIBIT B: DreaMM studies #EHA24RF #mmsm
Now out Belantamab/Pd vs PVd DREAMM-8 trial @NEJM in RRMM: N= 302 patients (155/BPd, and 147/PVd) 12-month PFS BPd was 71% Vs 51% with PVd. ORR: BPd 77% vs PVd 72% CR: BPd 40% vs PVd 16%...
#mmsm #ASCO24 DREAMM-8 Study design 👇 Notice the dose of blenrep was lower than the older dosing with lower dose at second dose Consort diagram and reasons for...
This study also shows a belantamab based triplet providing better PFS rate than another triplet. DREAMM-7 & DREAMM-8 establish the efficacy of belantamab— will likely lead to regulatory...
DREAMM-8 is a Phase III, open-label, multicenter, randomized trial evaluating belantamab mafodotin (Blenrep) plus pomalidomide and dexamethasone (BPd) versus pomalidomide plus bortezomib and dexamethasone (PVd) in patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma who have received at least one prior line of therapy including lenalidomide. The trial enrolled 302 patients and demonstrated a significant PFS benefit for BPd, supporting belantamab mafodotin combinations as a new treatment paradigm in RRMM alongside the companion DREAMM-7 trial.
Phase III, open-label, 1:1 randomized, multicenter trial (NCT04484623). BPd arm: belantamab mafodotin 2.5 mg/kg IV cycle 1, then 1.9 mg/kg Q4W from cycle 2; pomalidomide 4 mg PO days 1-21; dexamethasone 40 mg days 1, 8, 15, 22. PVd arm: bortezomib 1.3 mg/m2 SC days 1, 4, 8, 11 (cycles 1-8), then days 1, 8; pomalidomide 4 mg days 1-14; dexamethasone 20 mg on day of/after bortezomib. Stratified by prior lines, prior bortezomib, and prior anti-CD38. Treatment until progression, death, or unacceptable toxicity.
Adults with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma who received at least 1 prior line including lenalidomide and had documented disease progression during or after most recent therapy. 78% were lenalidomide-refractory. No prior anti-BCMA or pomalidomide exposure. Not refractory or intolerant to bortezomib. 25% had prior daratumumab exposure.
Arm A: Belantamab mafodotin + pomalidomide + dexamethasone (BPd). Arm B: Pomalidomide + bortezomib + dexamethasone (PVd). Treatment continued until progression, death, unacceptable toxicity, withdrawal of consent, or study cessation.
Primary endpoint: PFS by independent review committee per IMWG criteria. Key secondary endpoints: OS, MRD negativity by NGS. Other secondary: ORR, DOR, CR rate, VGPR or better, time to progression, PFS2, AEs, ocular findings, and patient-reported outcomes.
BPd demonstrated a significant PFS benefit with HR 0.52 (95% CI 0.37-0.73; p<0.001) at primary analysis (median follow-up 21.8 months). Median PFS was not reached (95% CI 20.6-NR) for BPd vs 12.7 months (95% CI 9.1-18.5) for PVd. 12-month PFS rate: 71% vs 51%. Updated analysis at 28 months showed median PFS of 32.6 months vs 12.5 months (HR 0.49). ORR: 77% vs 72%, with CR or better of 40% vs 16%. Median duration of response: not reached vs 17.5 months.
At the interim analysis, a positive trend in OS was observed favoring BPd but was not yet statistically significant. Follow-up for OS continues. The companion DREAMM-7 trial demonstrated a significant OS benefit (HR 0.58) for belantamab mafodotin + BorDex vs daratumumab + BorDex, providing supportive evidence for the class.
AEs occurred in >99% of BPd vs 96% of PVd patients. Ocular toxicity was the primary safety concern: grade 3/4 ocular AEs in 43% of BPd vs 2% of PVd. Over 90% of patients experienced keratopathy/visual acuity events across DREAMM trials, with 77-78% high-grade. Worsening vision-related function (OSDI) in 73% BPd vs 51% PVd, though 92% improved after median 57 days. Over 75% required dose modifications due to KVA events. Fewer than 50% received full intended dose by cycle 3. Despite this, treatment discontinuation due to ocular toxicity was low, and QOL was maintained per EORTC QLQ-C30.
DREAMM-8 establishes BPd as a new standard-of-care option for RRMM at first relapse, particularly for lenalidomide-refractory patients. The ODAC committee voted 7-1 against recommending BPd approval (October 2025), primarily citing ocular toxicity concerns and dosing optimization questions, though the FDA approved belantamab mafodotin combinations (BVd from DREAMM-7 and BPd from DREAMM-8) on October 23, 2025 with a REMS program. Key debates include optimal dose-finding (DREAMM-14 exploring lower doses), real-world management of keratopathy without the strict protocol-driven monitoring used in trials, sequencing with bispecifics and CAR-T, and whether the ODAC dissent will impact commercial adoption.