Dr. Popat on Weighing Belantamab Mafodotin–Related Toxicities in Multiple Myeloma

Rakesh Popat, BSc, MBBS, MRCP, FRCPath, PhD, consultant hematologist, University College Hospital, honorary associate professor, University College London, discusses the toxicities associated with belantamab mafodotin-blmf (Blenrep) in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma.

Weighing the risks and benefits of all therapies in oncology is an important step of the treatment-decision process, Popat says. Moreover, all treatment recommendations should be personalized to the individual patient.

Findings from the phase 2 DREAMM-2 trial (NCT03525678), which led to the August 2020 FDA approval of belantamab mafodotin, demonstrated clinical activity and a tolerable safety profile with the antibody-drug conjugate in patients with heavily pretreated relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma. Notably, most patients who required treatment discontinuations stopped treatment because of disease progression rather than adverse effects (AEs), Popat says.

Regardless, making a patient aware of the potential toxicities associated with belantamab mafodotin, including thrombocytopenia and keratopathy, is critical, Popat explains. Moreover, explaining how these AEs could affect a patient’s quality of life, as well as the how the efficacy of the agent compares with that of standard of care therapies, is important, Popat concludes.