EHA 2016 | Why daratumumab will become key for the treatment of multiple myeloma

Philippe Moreau, MD from the University Hospital of Nantes, Nantes, France gives an overview of his session on how monoclonal antibodies will change therapy in multiple myeloma (MM) held at the European Hematology Association (EHA) 2016 Annual Congress in Copenhagen, Denmark. In Europe, elotuzumab is approved in combination with lenalidomide and dexamethasone in the relapsed setting and this combination shows progression-free survival (PFS) benefit. The most interesting monoclonal antibody in Prof Moreau’s opinion is daratumumab, which targets CD38. Daratumumab can be used in very advanced patients in Europe. Prof Moreau also outlines the results of the POLLUX and CASTOR trials (NCT02076009 and NCT02136134), which looked at daratumumab in combination with lenalidomide and dexamethasone, and bortezomib and dexamethasone respectively. The benefit in terms of progression-free survival is significant in both trials. Eventually, there will also be data supporting the use of daratumumab in patients with one to two prior lines of treatment, and patients not eligible for stem cell transplantation. Prof Moreau explains that daratumumab will become a key drug in multiple myeloma. Overall, the drug is also well-tolerated.