Dr. Usmani on Activity of Teclistamab in Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma

Saad Usmani, MD, chief of the Plasma Cell Disorders Program and director of Clinical Research in Hematologic Malignancies at the Levine Cancer Institute, of Atrium Health, discusses research with teclistamab (JNJ-64007957) in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma presented at the 2020 ASCO Virtual Scientific Program.

In the first-in-human, dose-escalation trial (NCT03145181), investigators set out to identify the recommended phase 2 dose and schedule for the agent and to evaluate the safety and tolerability of its use in patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma. The research began approximately 4 years ago, says Usmani. Doses ranged from 0.3 to 720 µg/kg weekly.

At the virtual meeting, Usmani and colleagues presented early safety and efficacy data. A total of 78 patients were treated with teclistamab and the median number of prior therapies was 6, says Usmani. Overall, 72% of participants were triple-class exposed, 62% triple-class refractory, and 51% penta-drug refractory.

The drug was active in patients receiving 38.4 µg/kg or higher, with 38% of patients achieving a response per IMWG criteria. Two patients were minimal residual disease (MRD)—evaluable per next-generation sequencing, and they both were MRD negative at 10^-6 with treatment ongoing > 12 months.

<<< 2020 ASCO Virtual Scientific Program