Daratumumab: A Promising Option
- New studies suggest that daratumumab can benefit patients with multiple myeloma regardless of whether they're eligible to receive a stem cell transplant
- Daratumumab is a type of drug called a targeted monoclonal antibody
- The drug works by binding to a protein called CD38, found on the surface of multiple myeloma cells; the body's immune system then identifies the need to attack and kill the multiple myeloma cells
whether they're eligible to receive a stem cell transplant.
Daratumumab (also known by its brand name, Darzalex), is a type of drug called a targeted monoclonal antibody. It works by binding to a specific protein called CD38, which is found on the surface of multiple myeloma cells. Once the daratumumab attaches to these proteins on the surface of the cells, the body’s immune system identifies the need to attack and kill the multiple myeloma cells.
A Promising Option Regardless of Transplant Eligibility
Read MorePromising Results from a Trial
“One thing that’s really gotten a lot of attention is not just three drugs, but four drugs,” Dr. Shah says. She explains that a recent clinical trial called GRIFFIN showed that before a stem cell transplant, treatment with daratumumab in combination with Velcade, Revlimid and dexamethasone was more beneficial than treatment with Velcade, Revlimid and dexamethasone alone.
And when patients who received this combination before their transplant, then went on to receive additional daratumumab after their transplant, the benefit was even greater.
“Preliminarily, at least, the data seems to indicate that the patients who got four drugs, then went on to a transplant and then got more daratumumab … actually did better than the three drugs,” Dr. Shah says.
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