Dr Keith Stewart, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA, summarises the advances in multiple myeloma (MM) presented at EHA 2014. He notes the positive results with monoclonal antibodies targeting CD38 used alone and in combination, and highlights data with the deacetylase enzyme inhibitor, panobinostat (LBH589), as well as newer drugs still in earlier stage development. Prof Stewart also comments on how these novel therapies can all best be used, how high-risk disease should best be treated, i.e. using proteasome inhibitors for longer than previously, and promise for MM management of the use of antibodies. Finally, he comments on the oral development of therapies in MM.