Dr. Voorhees on the Benefit of Monoclonal Antibodies in Myeloma

Peter Voorhees, MD, a myeloma specialist at Levine Cancer Institute, of Atrium Health, discusses the benefit of monoclonal antibodies in multiple myeloma.

With regard to the existing FDA approved monoclonal antibodies, is that they can readily be added to standard-of-care backbone regimens used in multiple myeloma with good tolerability and a clear improvement in depth of response and progression-free survival (PFS), says Voorhees. The addition of elotuzumab (Empliciti), a monoclonal antibody directed against the SLAMF7 receptor, to the lenalidomide (Revlimid)/dexamethasone backbone led to increased PFS. More recently, when elotuzumab was added to the pomalidomde (Pomalyst)/dexamethasone backbone, an improved depth of response and PFS was observed. The space has seen an uptick in the use of elotuzumab in combination with pomalidomide and dexamethasone based on those data, concludes Voorhees.