IMW 2021: Heinz Ludwig and Hermann Einsele discuss meeting highlights

IMW 2021 highlights with Heinz Ludwig and Hermann Einsele

At the 18th International Myeloma Workshop (IMW), held in Vienna, Austria, VJHemOnc caught up with multiple myeloma experts Heinz Ludwig and Hermann Einsele. Watch as they discuss key highlights from the meeting, including MRD, patient empowerment and more.

The IMW 2021 congress and COVID-19

“We have to come together because it makes a big difference just to watch a presentation online or to have the opportunity to discuss with your friends and colleagues certain issues which you cannot do online in two minutes. So that is one of the major benefits.”
– Heinz Ludwig

“For the young scientists, to meet the young clinicians to meet the big guys in myeloma is so stimulating, so motivating and I think this is one of the big reasons why we decided to have a this as a hybrid meeting.”
– Hermann Einsele

Key highlights of IMW 2021

“We had an excellent presentation by Ken Anderson that involved molecular mechanisms which we need to tackle to develop new treatments. He opened the door for new treatment approaches, new targets – that is very important.”
– Heinz Ludwig

“Highlighting the importance of transplant – there’s some discussion if it’s still needed in view of the new immunotherapy chemo combinations – but I’m sure there’s a subgroup of patients who still benefit from this.”
– Heinz Ludwig

Long-term disease-free survival in myeloma

“We have a lot of new platforms and new technologies where we now on the single cell level look into the tumor heterogeneity, and we learn very early why tumors are getting resistant to certain treatments, what our new mechanisms or resistance and how can we overcome this?”
– Hermann Einsele

“We’re really moving towards long-term disease-free survival, maybe even cure.”
– Hermann Einsele

MRD in myeloma: the FDA perspective

“There are still some concerns on the side of the regulatory authorities, but in my opinion when you look at that data which are available, it’s very clear that MRD and particularly maintained MRD-negative status correlates so well and so closely with survival that’ it’s only a question of time when the authorities will accept the facts which are there, and when MRD will be accepted as a surrogate marker for survival.”
– Heinz Ludwig

“You cannot wait 20 years to read out your study – you need to have an earlier, let’s say evaluation, in order to see whether your treatment is working or not.”
– Heinz Ludwig

Patient empowerment in myeloma

“It’s easier to, in my opinion, my personal practice, to discuss the management of the disease with a patient who is informed, because then I get better feedback.”
– Heinz Ludwig

“If you know how to serve your patients it’s much easier to get self-fulfilment satisfaction in your job because you can change the situation, improve the situation of your patient, whatever stage they are by caring for them, taking their hand and finding the appropriate and best treatment for them.”
– Hermann Einsele