It is common practice to treat multiple myeloma patients with a stem cell transplant. In the GENESIS trial, the stem cells were autologous (from the patient’s own peripheral blood or bone marrow).

An article in the Multiple Myeloma Hub announced the impressive results of the GENESIS trial favoring Motixafortide + G-CSF over G-CSF + a placebo. These proteins are called granulocyte colony-stimulating factors and cause stem cells in the bone marrow to move into the blood.

About The Stem Cell Transplant (SCT)

A high dose of chemotherapy is administered before the transplant to eliminate cells in the bone marrow. The next step in the transplant is called apheresis. It is a process that involves the removal of whole blood from the patient, separating plasma, white blood cells, and platelets, then returning the remainder of the blood into the body.

The transplant is completed by infusing healthy stem cells back into the patient. These cells will grow into white cells, platelets, and red blood cells.

Looking Forward

BioLineRX, the company responsible for motixafortide, stated that a new drug application will be submitted early in 2022. It reported that the number of cord blood cells collected on the first day of apheresis with motixafortide was 8.5 million compared to 1.5 million with the placebo.

The company believes that the results of the GENESIS trial support their goal of the combination becoming the standard of care along with G-CSF in transplant procedures.

The FDA had previously awarded motixafortide orphan drug status to treat acute myeloid leukemia, pancreatic cancer, and stem cell mobilization.