IMS 2026, Part 1: Myeloma Treatment Is Evolving

The 2026 International Myeloma Society (IMS) Annual Meeting, the largest myeloma-focused scientific meeting in the world, kicked off this week in Glasgow, Scotland. Over the course of the four-day meeting, thousands of experts from around the globe are discussing key issues in myeloma. For patients, these discussions offer critical insight into how treatment and monitoring are evolving.

On day one, experts reinforced quadruplet therapy (treatment with four medicines) as the current standard of care for newly diagnosed patients. These combinations have helped more patients achieve deep, lasting responses. Researchers continue to investigate whether achieving very low or undetectable levels of myeloma, known as MRD negativity, could help guide decisions about whether a transplant is necessary, or how long maintenance therapy should last.

What can we do differently for patients with high-risk myeloma?

Some forms of myeloma and related plasma cell disorders can be more difficult to treat or are more likely to progress quickly. In these cases, the disease is considered high-risk. Three studies explored new monitoring and treatment approaches for people with high-risk disease.

• The first study looked at which high-risk features were most strongly linked to poorer outcomes in patients with two or more high-risk genetic changes. All patients received a four-drug treatment combination (Sarclisa, Velcade, Revlimid, and dexamethasone), followed by high-dose chemotherapy and a stem cell transplant. Researchers found that patients were more likely to have their myeloma worsen sooner if they had more advanced disease (R2-ISS stage II–IV), high LDH levels, certain genetic changes such as del(17p) or gain(1q), or if they did not achieve a complete response after their initial treatment. Understanding which features have the greatest impact could help doctors better predict how a patient’s myeloma may behave and decide whether they may benefit from closer monitoring or a different treatment approach.
• In another study, researchers evaluated BCMA-targeted CAR T-cell therapy in 22 patients with newly diagnosed primary plasma cell leukemia, a rare, aggressive plasma cell cancer that shares many features with high-risk myeloma. All patients treated with CAR T-cell therapy responded; nearly 90% had a complete response and all tested MRD-negative. For most patients, these responses were long-lasting: at 24 months, about 88% were progression-free. Cytokine release syndrome (CRS), which happens when your immune system goes into overdrive after CAR T treatment, was mild to moderate. No patients experienced immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS), a potential side effect that can affect the brain and nervous system.
• In the third study, researchers tested Lynozyfic, a BCMA-targeted bispecific antibody similar to Tecvayli, in 36 people with high-risk smoldering multiple myeloma. Smoldering myeloma is an early form of myeloma that does not cause symptoms or organ damage, and people considered high-risk have a greater chance of developing active myeloma. All patients treated with Lynozyfic responded, with nearly all achieving a very good partial response or better. After nine months of follow-up, none had developed active myeloma. Side effects included mostly mild cytokine release syndrome, while no cases of ICANS were reported. Infections were common but were mostly not serious and resolved with routine care.

Together, these studies show how researchers are working to better understand and address high-risk disease. That includes identifying which features may signal that myeloma is more likely to worsen sooner, while also exploring whether newer treatments could improve outcomes for people at greater risk. As the meeting continues, we’ll share more highlights and insights to help you understand what emerging treatment strategies could mean for all myeloma patients moving forward.