The impact of new drugs and the changing role of transplants in multiple myeloma

Paul Richardson, MD from the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA discusses his talk on ‘Perspectives on future paths to cure’ in multiple myeloma (MM) held at the Myeloma 2016 meeting in Boston, MA. Dr Richardson discusses monoclonal antibodies, proteasome inhibitors, immunomodulatory drugs (IMiDs), HDAC inibitors as well as the role of transplants. He first discusses daratumumab, which is considered a breakthrough drug in MM. While daratumumab is used in monotherapy, elotuzumab needs to be combined with proteasome inhibitors or IMiDs. Further isatuximab, which targets CD38, appears to very promising. In terms of the new proteasome inhibitors, Dr Richardson discusses ixazomib, which is well tolerated, and carfilzomib. In terms of IMiDs, Dr Richardson highlights the importance of lenalidomide and pomalidomide. Dr Richardson further mentions the HDAC inhibitors panabinostat and ACY 241, which is showing promise. Dr Richardson further discusses how continuous therapy and responses to induction therapy are important and further, how transplants fit into the picture. Whether transplant is a standard of care or not is a key question according to Dr Richardson.