At a press conference during the 2014 American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting, Prof Keith Stewart (Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ) discusses the randomised, open-label, multicentre phase III ASPIRE study. The results of this study suggest carfilzomib combined with standard multiple myeloma therapy (combination of lenalidomide and dexamethasone) improves treatment responses in patients with relapsed or treatment-resistant multiple myeloma.