Anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody daratumumab (Darzalex) is indicated for the treatment or patients with multiple myeloma that have failed prior treatment. CD38 is a Continue reading
Tag Archives: multiple myeloma
Anti-APRIL Antibody BION-1301 for Multiple Myeloma
Multiple myeloma (MM) is a cancer of plasma cells in the bone marrow. Plasma cells are B lymphocytes (B-cells) that have been activated to produce immunoglobulins. When plasma cells become cancerous, the produce copious amounts of immunoglobulins and proliferate in the bone marrow, causing crowding-out of other essential hematopoietic cells, leading to reduced numbers of functioning white blood cells (leukopenia leading to immunosuppression), red blood cells (anemia), and megakaryocytes (thrombocytopenia). Continue reading
Sellas merges with Galena to advance WT1 peptide cancer vaccine
Sellas reversed merged into Galena, a peptide vaccine company whose lead product, NeuVax, for breast cancer failed. Sellas’ lead product is galinpepimut-S for AML (acute myelogenous leukemia) and mesothelioma, as well as other cancers. Continue reading
Celgene Acquires EngMab for BCMA Program
Celgene acquired EngMab for $600MM to enrich its programs targeting B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA) for the treatment of multiple myeloma. Celgene is exploiting BCMA in both CAR T (chimeric antigen receptor T-cell) and bispecific antibodies targeting CD-3 (Cluster of differentiation 3), Continue reading
Leap’s Two Early-Stage Immuno-Oncology Antibodies
Leap Therapeutics, an immuno-oncology company, recently reversed merge with Macrocure to become a publicly traded company, and received an investment of $10MM from current investors in order to advance two antibodies – DKN-01, a humanized monoclonal antibody targeting the Dickkopf-1 (DKK1) protein on cancer cells, and TRX518, a humanized GITR agonist that augments T-cell responses against tumors. Continue reading
Surprising Efficacy of Darzalex is not Solely Due to Anti-CD38 Activity on Myeloma Cells
We have previously reviewed anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody Darzalex (daratumumab) in multiple myeloma. Daratumumab targets CD38-expressing myeloma cells through a variety of immune-mediated mechanisms (complement-dependent cytotoxicity, antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity, and antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis) and direct apoptosis with cross-linking of receptors. Continue reading
Second Multiple Myeloma Antibody Approved – Empliciti
Elotuzumab (Empliciti) is now the second monoclonal antibody (Mab) approved by the FDA for multiple myeloma (MM). Darzalex (daratumumab), the first Mab for MM, was approved by the FDA just 3 weeks ago. Continue reading
Darzalex for Refractory Multiple Myeloma
Darzalex (daratumumab), and anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody for the treatment of patients with multiple myeloma who had already undergone at least three prior standard treatments, received FDA approval. The product was developed by J&J and Genmab. Continue reading
Elotuzumab plus Revlimed and Dexamethasone in Multiple Myeloma
In the Phase III ELOQUENT-2 study, patients receiving elotuzumab plus standard therapy compared with patients receiving standard therapy alone, lived a median time of 19.4 months until their disease progressed or until they died, compared with 14.9 months in those who received standard therapy alone. In addition, at a median follow-up period of two years, elotuzumab reduced the risk of disease progression or death by 30 percent. Continue reading
Kyprolis versus Velcade in Phase 3 Study in Previously-Treated Patients
In a Phase 3 study of 929 patients with previously treated multiple myeloma, two proteasome inhibitors, Velcade (bortexomib – Johnson & Johnson and Takeda) ) and Kyprolis (carfilzomib – Amgen), in combination with dexamethasone, were compared. Patients treated with Kyprolis had a median progression-free survival of 18.7 months, versus 9.4 months for those treated with Velcade.
