MMRF at ASCO 2025: Day 1 – What Patients Should Know

We’re excited to share highlights from the first day of the 2025 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting, one of the year’s most important events in cancer research.

This year, researchers from around the globe shared data on breakthrough research and treatment strategies, including 150 abstracts, posters, and presentations related to multiple myeloma. On Day 1 of ASCO, we were particularly encouraged by studies that showed progress for the following key areas of unmet need:

New Possibilities for Blenrep

Blenrep (belantamab mafodotin) is a type of cancer treatment that works by combining targeted therapy with chemotherapy.

One study looked at Blenrep combined with Pomalyst^® (pomalidomide) and dexamethasone (BPd) in patients who had received at least one prior treatment that included Revlimid. This study found that more patients (25%) became MRD-negative—the deepest response measurable—when treated with BPd versus Pomalyst, Velcade^® (bortezomib) and dexamethasone (PVd) (5%). The study also found that patients who did not become MRD-negative still benefitted more from BPd than PVd; 32% of patients who received BPd versus 5% of patients who received PVd had a very good partial response. Another study looked at some of the common eye problems caused by Blenrep. Researchers wanted to see if giving the drug less often could help reduce these side effects, especially in frail patients. The results were promising: patients still responded well to the treatment, even with fewer doses. Very few people—less than 1%—had serious vision problems like trouble driving or reading. When Blenrep was combined with the drugs Revlimid^® (lenalidomide) and dexamethasone, it appeared to be a good treatment option for newly diagnosed myeloma patients who are too weak for a transplant. These results suggest that Blenrep could be a valuable option for patients who have few treatment choices left, especially since it’s an off-the-shelf therapy that doesn’t require a hospital stay. It may receive FDA approval as early as this summer.

Better Treatment for Newly Diagnosed High-Risk Patients

Some newly diagnosed patients, especially those with high-risk chromosomal alterations, may not respond to standard therapies, but data on new drug combinations are showing hope:

• Researchers looking for a better treatment for high-risk newly diagnosed patients with the 1q21+ chromosomal alteration found that adding Sarclisa^® (isatuximab) to the standard treatment (Isa-VRd) showed promising results, including higher chances of a complete response – meaning more than 95% of plasma cells are eliminated from the bone marrow.
• In a separate study that included newly diagnosed myeloma patients with multiple chromosomal alterations and stage II or III myeloma, a four-drug combination of Sarclisa, Kyprolis^® (carfilzomib), Revlimid, and dexamethasone helped 87% of high-risk patients become and stay cancer free—many for 1-2 years or longer. Importantly, this study also showed that doctors could reduce the frequency of Kyprolis dosing to once a week instead of twice and still get an effective response.

Both studies indicate that adding Sarclisa to treatment protocols for high-risk newly diagnosed myeloma patients could become a new standard of treatment for this hard-to-treat patient group.

For Patients Who Can’t Get a Transplant or May Not Want One: DVRd

We saw promising updated data continuing to confirm that adding Darzalex^® (daratumumab) to the standard VRd combo (Velcade, Revlimid, dexamethasone)—known as DVRd—was shown to work better than VRd alone, particularly in patients who were not eligible to have a stem cell transplant or who are delaying a stem cell transplant.

The study found that treating with DVRd vs. VRd alone led to higher MRD-negative rates (60% vs. 39% MRD-negative rates) and better outcomes overall.

These results reinforce previous findings that DVRd is an important treatment option for patients who cannot or are not currently pursuing a stem cell transplant.

New Drugs and New Drug Combinations Show Promise

In a disease as complex as multiple myeloma, identifying new treatment options is key to moving toward a cure for each and every myeloma patient. It was encouraging to hear about the results of several studies focused on uncovering new treatment options.

• In an early study of relapsed and refractory patients, 75% of patients treated with ISB 2001, a trispecific antibody targeting BCMA and CD38, responded to the therapy—including patients who have received other BMCA-targeted and/or T-cell directed therapies. The most common side effects of this new treatment included infections, cytokine release syndrome, and a reduction in white blood cells. Only one patient discontinued treatment in this study. Overall, 60% of patients treated with ISB 2001 had a very good partial response or better – meaning there was a 90% decrease in M protein levels in their blood.
• Two other studies looked at combining linvoseltamab (a new, BCMA-directed bispecific antibody similar to Tecvayli^® and Elrexfio^®), with Velcade or Kyprolis, to see if they could enhance how well heavily-pretreated patients responded. In both studies, at least 50% of patients had a complete response—even if they had already tried other treatments. Common side effects included CRS, infections, and a reduction in white blood cells. In future clinical trials, these two treatment regimens will be measured up against standard of care therapies for relapsed/refractory patients.

Linvoseltamab is in late stage clinical trials and is expected to receive FDA approval later this year.

We’re hopeful about the progress shared on Day 1 of ASCO 2025—and we’ll be back tomorrow with more updates for the myeloma community. Stay tuned!

In this table, we’ve highlighted the key findings that could make a real difference in treatment options for people with myeloma.