Part 1
Newswise recently published exciting news of a therapy that causes the immune system to destroy cancer cells in the bone marrow. Researchers at Icahn School’s Tisch Cancer Center conducted two global trials of a bispecific antibody that instructs the T-cells to destroy multiple myeloma cells. Multiple myeloma is the second most common blood cancer.
About Talquetamab
The therapy, talquetamab, was successful in treating patients who had cancers that were resistant to commonly used multiple myeloma therapies. Talquetamab targets a receptor called GGPRC5D that is expressed in various cancer cells.
After the initial testing of talquetamab, the phase 1 clinical trial confirmed dosing and it was followed up with tests in the second trial.
About the Talquetamab Clinical Trials
Between January 2018 and November 2021, 232 patients in various parts of the world were enrolled in a Phase 1 clinical trial. All trial participants had received a minimum of three therapies without achieving an ongoing remission.
About Talquetamab
This therapy, talquetamab, was successful in treating patients who had cancers that were resistant to commonly used multiple myeloma therapies. Talquetamab targets a receptor called GGPRC5D that is expressed on various cancer cells.
After the initial testing of talquetamab, the phase 1 clinical trial confirmed dosing and it was followed up with additional tests in the second trial.
About the Talquetamab Clinical Trials
Between January 2018 and November 2021, 232 patients in various parts of the world were enrolled in a Phase 1 clinical trial. All trial participants had received a minimum of three therapies without achieving an ongoing remission.
Doses were administered intravenously or by injection under the skin. In the future, studies will consist of doses administered under the skin (subcutaneous) either weekly or every two weeks.
The Phase 2 trial involved 143 participants who were administered one dose of talquetamab each week and the second cohort of 145 patients were administered biweekly doses.
Talquetamab offers patients with unresponsive multiple myeloma new hope for a longer remission.
A Statement from Dr. Chari
Dr. Ajai Chari, lead author of the study and Clinical Research Director at the Institute, was pleased to announce that talquetamab brought about a significant response in multiple myeloma patients whose cancer exhibited significant resistance or had relapsed.
The therapy is poised to fill an unmet need as almost all multiple myeloma patients who have received standard therapies either develop a resistance to all approved therapies or relapse.
The Overall Survival Rate (OS)
The OS in these groups was approximately seventy-three percent according to Dr. Chari. Except for certain subgroups involving patients with a rare form of the disease, the excellent response rate was maintained.
Measurable responses were recorded as being 1.2 months in both groups while the median length of response thus far for patients receiving weekly dosing is 9.3 months.
Patients in both groups (30%) were found to have total response meaning that there were no myeloma-specific markers observed. Also, almost sixty percent of patients had an exceptionally favorable partial response giving every indication that the cancer was significantly reduced.
About Adverse Events
The team noted only five to six percent of participants left the trial due to side effects.
Although the side effects were usually mild, the research team reported that they occurred frequently. A common side effect is cytokine release syndrome (CRS) which must be monitored as it can be fatal often accompanies immunotherapy. CRS is an immune system overresponse caused by immunotherapy or an infection.
In conclusion, Dr. Chari confirmed that the results of the two clinical trials were higher than the majority of other approved therapies.
Stay tuned for Part 2.
