Dive Into Key Data and Presentations From EHA 2026

Pivotal data across multiple myeloma, large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL), and myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) took the spotlight during the 2026 EHA Congress, with phase 3 readouts reinforcing the movement of bispecific antibodies and antibody-based combinations into earlier and settings, while early-phase data introduced an in vivo CAR T-cell approach in multiple myeloma and a first-in-class CALR mutation–specific antibody in myelofibrosis.

View the slideshow above for a recap of pivotal data reported across several key studies during EHA 2026. To read more on these studies and their potential implications for practice, watch and read expert insights here.

LBCL

Epcoritamab-bysp (Epkinly) monotherapy significantly improved progression-free survival (PFS) compared with investigator’s choice of chemoimmunotherapy (CIT) in patients with relapsed or refractory LBCL, meeting one of the dual primary end points of the phase 3 EPCORE DLBCL-1 trial (NCT04628494).¹

At a median follow-up of 38.6 months in the epcoritamab arm (n = 168) and 28.2 months in the CIT arm (n = 178), the median PFS by independent review committee was 3.5 months (95% CI, 2.9-4.6) with epcoritamab vs 3.0 months (95% CI, 2.9-4.1) with CIT (stratified HR, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.60-0.92; P = .0059). The complete response (CR) rate was 38% with epcoritamab vs 26% with CIT (nominal P = .0032).

The coprimary end point of overall survival (OS) was not significantly different between the arms (stratified HR, 0.96; 95% CI, 0.77-1.20; P = .7285); investigators noted this result was confounded by COVID-19 mortality and greater use of subsequent therapies in the CIT arm. A post hoc analysis adjusting for both factors yielded a median OS of 16.7 months vs 9.5 months, respectively (stratified HR, 0.76; 95% CI, 0.59-0.99).

In the frontline setting, tafasitamab-cxix (Monjuvi) in combination with lenalidomide (Revlimid) and R-CHOP (rituximab [Rituxan], cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone) produced a statistically significant improvement in PFS compared with R-CHOP alone in patients with newly diagnosed, high-risk diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), according to data from the phase 3 frontMIND trial (NCT04824092).²

At a median follow-up of 35.2 months, the tafasitamab-based regimen (n = 448) led to a 25% reduction in the risk of disease progression or death vs R-CHOP alone (n = 451; HR, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.59-0.96; P = .0194). The 2- and 3-year PFS rates were 71.1% and 67.3%, respectively, for the experimental regimen vs 62.9% and 60.7% for R-CHOP alone. Event-free survival was also improved with tafasitamab-based treatment (HR, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.64-0.97; P = .0260), and interim OS data favored the tafasitamab arm (HR, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.63-1.14; P = .2703), with the final OS analysis planned at 5 years. The addition of tafasitamab and lenalidomide did not compromise R-CHOP delivery, with a median relative dose intensity of 100% in both arms.

Multiple Myeloma

The BCMA-directed, in vivo CAR T-cell therapy KLN-1010 drove deep minimal residual disease (MRD)–negative responses in patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma, according to data from the phase 1 inMMyCAR trial (NCT07075185).³ Unlike conventional CAR T-cell therapy, KLN-1010 uses lentiviral particles to generate anti-BCMA CAR T cells within the patient, eliminating the need for leukapheresis, ex vivo manufacturing, and lymphodepletion.

Among evaluable patients (n = 18), the overall response rate (ORR) was 100%, comprising a stringent CR (sCR) rate of 22%, a CR rate of 6%, a very good partial response (VGPR) rate of 22%, and a partial response rate of 50%. Among those with at least 4 months of follow-up (n = 6), the sCR rate was 67%, and the VGPR rate was 33%. MRD-negative bone marrow responses at a sensitivity of 10^-5 were observed in 100% of evaluable patients (n = 14). No grade 3 or higher cytokine release syndrome (CRS) was reported across the 3 dose levels, and investigators characterized the safety and tolerability profile of the off-the-shelf product as supportive of outpatient dosing.

Additionally, teclistamab-cqyv (Tecvayli) monotherapy produced significant improvements in PFS and OS compared with investigator’s choice of standard-of-care (SOC) pomalidomide (Pomalyst), bortezomib (Velcade), and dexamethasone (PVd) or carfilzomib (Kyprolis) plus dexamethasone (Kd) in patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma who had received 1 to 3 prior lines of therapy including daratumumab (Darzalex) and lenalidomide, according to data from the phase 3 MajesTEC-9 trial (NCT05572515).⁴

At a median follow-up of 17.3 months, teclistamab (n = 296) reduced the risk of disease progression or death by 71% vs SOC (n = 297; HR, 0.29; 95% CI, 0.23-0.38; P < .0001); the median PFS was not reached vs 8.2 months, with 18-month PFS rates of 69.8% vs 26.9%, respectively. Teclistamab also reduced the risk of death by 40% (HR, 0.60; 95% CI, 0.43-0.83; P = .0020), with 18-month OS rates of 79.2% vs 68.6%. The bispecific antibody generated deeper responses as well, producing an ORR of 84.5% vs 54.2% and a CR-or-better rate of 65.9% vs 16.8%.

MPNs

INCA033989, a first-in-class, fully human, Fc-silenced IgG1 monoclonal antibody that selectively targets CALR mutations in complex with the thrombopoietin receptor, was well tolerated and generated spleen, symptom, anemia, and molecular responses in patients with CALR-mutated myelofibrosis, according to data from 2 ongoing phase 1 studies (NCT05936359; NCT06034002).⁵

The agent was evaluated as monotherapy in patients who were relapsed/refractory/intolerant to or ineligible for JAK inhibitor therapy (n = 83), as well as in combination with ruxolitinib (Jakafi) in those with a suboptimal response to prior ruxolitinib (n = 21). No dose-limiting toxicities were observed, and the maximum tolerated dose was not reached; 84% and 76% of patients remained on monotherapy and combination therapy, respectively, and the most common grade 3 or higher toxicities were cytopenias, which generally occurred in patients with preexisting cytopenias. Among patients treated with monotherapy (n = 69), 55% achieved a spleen volume reduction of at least 25% and 39% experienced a reduction of at least 35% as their best response. Additionally, 53% of evaluable patients (n = 70) had a best total symptom score reduction of 50% or greater, and 60% of evaluable anemic patients (n = 40) achieved an anemia response, most of which were major responses.

References

1. Fox CP, Inchiappa L, Ferhanoğlu B, et al. Results from EPCORE DLBCL-1: randomized phase 3 study of epcoritamab vs investigator’s choice chemoimmunotherapy in patients with relapsed/refractory large B-cell lymphoma. Presented at: 2026 EHA Congress; June 11-14, 2026; Stockholm, Sweden. Abstract S235.
2. Lenz G, Trněný M, Burke JM, et al. Tafasitamab plus lenalidomide and R-CHOP for patients with previously untreated diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL): results from the phase 3 frontMIND study. Presented at: 2026 EHA Congress; June 11-14, 2026; Stockholm, Sweden. Abstract S101.
3. Spencer A, Harrison S, Lim S-L, et al. Successful in vivo CAR-T generation and MRD clearance with KLN-1010 across diverse baseline T-cell phenotypes in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma. Presented at: 2026 EHA Congress; June 11-14, 2026; Stockholm, Sweden. Abstract S185.
4. Touzeau C, Mina R, Hungria V, et al. MajesTEC-9: a phase 3 study of teclistamab monotherapy vs pomalidomide/bortezomib/dexamethasone or carfilzomib/dexamethasone (PVd/Kd) in patients (pts) with relapsed refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM). Presented at: 2026 EHA Congress; June 11-14, 2026; Stockholm, Sweden. Abstract S195.
5. Nangalia J, Harrison C, Gotlib J, et al. Mutant calreticulin-specific monoclonal antibody, INCA033989, produces clonal molecular responses that correlate with clinical responses in patients with myelofibrosis. Presented at: 2026 EHA Congress; June 11-14, 2026; Stockholm, Sweden. Abstract S216.