Results from the Phase 3 CASTOR trial from Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies were recently released, finding that Darzalex (daratumumab) was extremely effective at reducing the risk of multiple myeloma progression or death when added to the standard Velcade (bortezomib) and dexamethasone regime.
Darzalex is an antibody that induces both direct and indirect anti-myeloma activity in the body.
Overall, the drug has been proven to be extremely effective as both a singular therapy option for multiple myeloma patients who have already received three prior treatment strategies, as well as a combination drug to be used alongside these other medications in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma.
However, usually Darzalex is administered after treatment with Velcade (a proteasome inhibitor) and dexamethasone (a corticosteroid). The CASTOR trial looked into the efficacy of Darzalex being administered at the same time – combined – with the other two therapies.
It found that for patients who had relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma, a Darzalex and Velcade/dexamethasone combination resulted in significantly longer progression-free survival than just the latter two medications on their own.
In fact, the risk of progression or death was reduced by a whopping 61%, with double the number of response rates compared to the standard regimen.
Despite these encouraging results, longer patient follow-up is needed to fully determine the impact of the Darzalex combination, although initially Darzalex “did not significantly increase any toxicities that were already present in the combination of bortezomib and dexamethasone,” according to lead investigator Antonio Palumbo.
It is paramount to move as quickly as possible in the early phases of multiple myeloma, and needless to say, Darzalex proves an extremely important and exciting option for patients and doctors.
More clinical trials are currently underway to test the advantage of the drug in other circumstances, but until those results are released, you can learn more about Darzalex here!
