Established and experimental treatments
Drug classes, and the number of treatments within them,
are on the increase.
Treatments can be classified
based on similarities in behavior,
similarities in chemical structure,
and by the way they are used
Immunotherapies
and Antibodies
In Development
n
Monoclonal Antibodies
Immunotherapy is the newest approach
(e.g., anti-CD 38 inhibitors,
to multiple myeloma treatment. It is an
checkpoint inhibitors, etc.)
umbrella term that describes different
n
to treat a particular condition.
ways to stimulate the immune system
n
Treatments are particularly
and enhance its ability to attack cancer
effective when drugs from
different classes are given
Vaccines
Adoptive T-cell therapy
cells. Many of these treatments involve
In Phase 3
antibodies that target specific proteins
n
(monoclonal antibody)
found on multiple myeloma cells. These
simultaneously, in combinations
drugs are still in clinical trials but show
of two or three.
considerable promise.
Daratumumab
n
Elotuzumab (monoclonal antibody)
Researchers are finding ways to enable
immune cells to attack cancer cells.
6
T HE MMRF.ORG