Dr. Morgan on BCMA-Targeted ADCs in Multiple Myeloma

Gareth J. Morgan, MD, PhD, a professor in the Department of Medicine and director of Multiple Myeloma Research, NYU Langone Health’s Perlmutter Cancer Center, discusses BCMA-targeted antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) in multiple myeloma.

ADCs are designed to provide a direct means of killing malignant cells, explains Morgan. The drug that is the furthest along in development is belantamab mafodotin, where monomethyl auristatin F (MMAF) is linked to a BCMA antibody. The linker transports MMAF to the malignant cell, and kills it by inhibiting its spindle, explains Morgan.

Findings from the phase I DREAMM-1 trial and phase II DREAMM-2 trial are very encouraging, says Morgan. In the DREAMM-2 trial, more than 30% of patients experienced durable responses with belantamab mafodotin. Although there is concern for ocular toxicity that can lead to keratopathy, investigators are evaluating alternative dosing schedules to reduce this risk, concludes Morgan.