Words by Isabel O’Brien
In a significant development for the treatment of multiple myeloma, a new clinical trial has shown that GSK’s belantamab mafodotin can reduce the risk of death by 42% in patients who have relapsed or become resistant to previous treatments.
The data comes from the DREAMM-7 trial, which tested the drug in combination with bortezomib and dexamethasone against Johnson and Johnson’s treatment daratumumab in combination with the same two drugs.
The results showed that patients treated with GSK’s combination had a projected median overall survival of 84 months, compared with 51 months for those on J&J’s regimen. At the three-year mark, the survival rate for belantamab mafodotin was 74%, compared to 60% for the standard treatment, again showing a positive story for GSK.
Dr Hesham Abdullah, Senior Vice President of Global Oncology, GSK, described the findings as “compelling”, saying the data suggests that the treatment could “significantly extend the lives” of patients at or after their first relapse. He went on to say that this could “redefine the treatment landscape” for the disease, which affects thousands globally and remains a significant unmet medical need.
Multiple myeloma is a cancer that starts in the plasma cells of bone marrow and often becomes resistant to treatment over time. Currently incurable, traditional therapies, including chemotherapy and stem cell transplants, provide limited life extension for patients who experience relapses, making the development of new treatment options critical.
