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Daratumumab: A Review in Combination Therapy for Transplant-Ineligible Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma

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Abstract

Intravenous daratumumab (DARZALEX®) is a human CD38 monoclonal antibody approved as combination therapy (with bortezomib, melphalan and prednisone) for patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (NDMM) who are ineligible for autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT). The approval was based on results of the phase 3 ALCYONE trial in which the addition of daratumumab to bortezomib, melphalan and prednisone significantly prolonged median progression-free survival (PFS) relative to bortezomib, melphalan and prednisone alone (primary endpoint). Daratumumab addition was also associated with deeper and durable responses relative to the comparator. The addition of daratumumab did not increase overall toxicity, with the exception of infusion-related reactions and increased rates of infections. The incidences of the most common grade 3 or 4 adverse events in the daratumumab group (neutropenia, thrombocytopenia and anaemia) were largely similar to those in the comparator group. Thus, daratumumab in combination with bortezomib, melphalan and prednisone represents a promising treatment option for patients with NDMM who are ineligible for ASCT.

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Fig. 1

adapted from McKeage and Lyseng-Williamson [15] with permission

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Acknowledgements

During the peer review process the manufacturer of daratumumab was also offered an opportunity to review this article. Changes resulting from comments received were made on the basis of scientific and editorial merit.

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    Yahiya Y. Syed

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Correspondence to Yahiya Y. Syed.

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Funding

The preparation of this review was not supported by any external funding.

Conflicts of interest

Yahiya Y Syed is a salaried employee of Adis/Springer, is responsible for the article content and declares no relevant conflicts of interest.

Additional information

The manuscript was reviewed by: N. Callander, University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, Madison, WI, USA; C. Cerchione, Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori (IRST) IRCCS, Meldola, Italy; S. A. Holstein, Internal Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA; T. Ichinohe, Department of Haematology and Oncology, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan; S. Knop, Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik II, Universitätsklinikum Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.

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Syed, Y.Y. Daratumumab: A Review in Combination Therapy for Transplant-Ineligible Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma. Drugs 79, 447–454 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40265-019-01080-6

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