IMS 2025: Day 4’s Focus on the Right Treatments for the Right Patient at the Right Time

The final day of IMS 2025 brought a powerful close to the meeting, underscoring how far the field has come in advancing personalized care for myeloma patients. From promising new drugs to smarter ways of tailoring treatment using biomarkers, today’s presentations made it clear: The future of myeloma therapy is not just about more options—it’s about better-matched options.

Researchers are now focusing on how to deliver the right treatment to the right patient at the right time, using tools like genetic profiling and immune markers to guide decisions.

Read on for what stood out to us.

New Treatments on the Horizon for Patients at All Stages of Disease

Day four showcased a pipeline of innovative treatments poised to transform myeloma care, from precision-targeted therapies that could redefine treatment standards to enhanced delivery methods that are more convenient for patients.

• On-body-injector for Sarclisa (isatuximab): For myeloma patients, having options that reduce discomfort and fit more easily into daily life is critical. In a phase 2 and phase 3 trial, patients with relapsed or refractory disease tried Sarclisa given through a small wearable injector instead of the traditional IV drip. Surveys looking at quality of life were given to these patients, who reported less pain, less discomfort, fewer side effects than expected, and meaningful time savings compared to IV treatment. Overall, more patients were satisfied with the on-body injector and said they would recommend it to others.
• Iberdomide: Iberdomide is part of a new class of drugs called CELMoDs. CELMoDs are related to IMiDs like Revlimid and Pomalyst, helping to boost the immune system’s ability to fight myeloma. Like IMiDs, they are also pills. In small clinical trial of 75 newly diagnosed patients who were ineligible for transplant, a combination of the oral CELMoD iberdomide with Darzalex (daratumumab) and dexamethasone (IberDd) led to responses in about 95% of people treated. Over 2 years, more patients in this study began to experience deeper responses. Side effects of the IbderDd regimen were manageable, and included infections, diarrhea, and rashes.
• Sonrotoclax: Sonrotoclax is a new oral drug designed to target a specific genetic change called t(11;14) that is found in approximately 20% of patients, and is similar to Venclexta (venetoclax), which is sometimes used off-label for patients with this genetic feature. In a phase 1/2 trial of 50 patients with relapsed/refractory myeloma, 81% responded to a combination of sonrotoclax and dexamethasone. Responses were often seen within three weeks and lasted over a year for many patients.
• HDP-101: HDP-101 is a new anti-BCMA antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) that delivers a powerful toxin directly to myeloma cells while sparing other healthy cells. In a phase 1/2 study of 42 relapsed/refractory patients, HDP-101 was generally safe, especially when given in split doses with premedication to reduce side effects like low platelets and liver changes. There was no evidence of eye-related side effects due to the drug; eye-related side effects are a common side effect with belantamab mafodotin, which is also an anti-BCMA ADC. About 50% of patients who were treated at higher doses responded to this therapy. Additional studies are underway to determine the dose that best balances safety and effectiveness. In this study, patients had already gone through about 7 different therapies, with some trying as many as 15. Even after many relapses, having new treatment options available is very encouraging. It means there is still hope and progress for patients who need more choices.

Strengthening Maintenance Therapy

As doctors work to improve myeloma treatments, researchers are studying whether using more than one treatment for maintenance therapy can help lower the chance of relapse. In a phase 3 study, patients who took a combination of Darzalex and Revlimid for two years did much better at keeping myeloma to very low, almost undetectable levels, compared to patients who took Revlimid alone. Just as important, the side effects were mild and very similar to what patients usually experience with Revlimid by itself. As discussed on day 3, these studies are especially important for patients who may have a higher risk of their disease returning quickly.

The Increasingly Important Role of Biomarkers

During the last day of IMS, we also heard updates on the growing role of biomarkers—biological signs in the body that help doctors better understand each patient’s type of myeloma. These discoveries build on earlier research from the MMRF’s CoMMpass^SM study, which is one of the most important studies ever conducted to better understand new targets for drug development and define which patients are more likely to have aggressive disease. Researchers across the field continue to leverage CoMMpass data.

• Biomarkers to predict risk: Earlier this year, experts introduced a new way to define high-risk multiple myeloma, a more aggressive form of the disease that is harder to treat. Two studies shared today showed that this new definition is not only accurate in predicting worse outcomes among high-risk patients, but it more effective than traditional staging systems, providing strong support for the use of this new definition.
• Biomarkers to guide treatment planning: Biomarkers are also helping doctors choose the best treatments for each patient. Several presentations focused on using biomarkers to predict how well a patient might respond to newer treatments like CAR T-cell therapy and bispecific antibodies, including who may be more likely to experience certain side effects. There’s also progress in using blood-based tests for monitoring, which could reduce the need for more invasive procedures like bone marrow biopsies.

These updates reflect a powerful shift in how myeloma is being treated—from relying solely on standard drug regimens to using a deeper understanding of each patient’s unique disease to guide care. As more targeted therapies and biomarker-driven tools move closer to routine use, the path forward looks increasingly personalized, offering new hope for better outcomes and a higher quality of life for patients at every stage of their journey.