Comparing the Effectiveness of Belantamab and Daratumumab in Treating Multiple Myeloma
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Reviewed & Translated by Nhi Phuong Quynh Le, B.A
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Posted on September 9th, 2024
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To maximize disease clearance and prevent resistance, multiple myeloma is often treated with a combination of therapies, including proteasome inhibitors and immunomodulators like bortezomib and dexamethasone. Monoclonal antibodies are also employed to specifically target tumor cells; for instance, CD38 and BCMA are highly expressed on myeloma cells and can be targeted by daratumumab and belantamab, respectively. A recent study funded by GlaxoSmithKline compared the effectiveness of daratumumab and belantamab in treating multiple myeloma and has now published its findings.
The study involved 494 participants diagnosed with multiple myeloma who were randomly assigned to receive intravenous treatment with either belantamab at 2.5 mg per kilogram of body weight or daratumumab at 16 mg per kilogram of body weight. Both treatments were administered every 3 weeks, with the frequency of daratumumab reduced to every 4 weeks after the first 8 doses. Concurrently, both groups received subcutaneous bortezomib at 1.3 mg per square meter of body-surface area and 20 mg of dexamethasone. Bortezomib injections were given on days 1, 4, 8, and 11 of 21-day cycles, while dexamethasone was administered on the day of bortezomib administration and the following day. After a median follow-up of 28.2 months, the researchers found that belantamab reduced the risk of death and disease progression by 59%, with an average progression-free survival of 36.6 months, significantly longer than the 13.4 months observed in the daratumumab group. Additionally, belantamab was more effective at eliminating tumor cells and achieving MRD-negative status. However, belantamab treatment significantly increased the risk of ocular adverse events that result in reduced visual acuity, which could be managed through dosage adjustment. Overall, the authors suggest that the low incidence of opportunistic infections and absence of life-threatening toxicities like cytokine release syndrome and neurotoxicity make belantamab a valuable therapy for outpatient settings that do not require continuous monitoring.
The study involved 494 participants diagnosed with multiple myeloma who were randomly assigned to receive intravenous treatment with either belantamab at 2.5 mg per kilogram of body weight or daratumumab at 16 mg per kilogram of body weight. Both treatments were administered every 3 weeks, with the frequency of daratumumab reduced to every 4 weeks after the first 8 doses. Concurrently, both groups received subcutaneous bortezomib at 1.3 mg per square meter of body-surface area and 20 mg of dexamethasone. Bortezomib injections were given on days 1, 4, 8, and 11 of 21-day cycles, while dexamethasone was administered on the day of bortezomib administration and the following day. After a median follow-up of 28.2 months, the researchers found that belantamab reduced the risk of death and disease progression by 59%, with an average progression-free survival of 36.6 months, significantly longer than the 13.4 months observed in the daratumumab group. Additionally, belantamab was more effective at eliminating tumor cells and achieving MRD-negative status. However, belantamab treatment significantly increased the risk of ocular adverse events that result in reduced visual acuity, which could be managed through dosage adjustment. Overall, the authors suggest that the low incidence of opportunistic infections and absence of life-threatening toxicities like cytokine release syndrome and neurotoxicity make belantamab a valuable therapy for outpatient settings that do not require continuous monitoring.