THE MMRC CLINICAL PIPELINE REPORT
STEADY PROGRESS BEING MADE
To date in 2015, the MMRC
has activated 4 clinical trials,
bringing our portfolio total
to 18 available for patient
enrollment. Overall, the
MMRC has been involved
in over 60 unique clinical
trials, with many more in
the start-up phase, which
we will report on in future
issues of Accelerator.
Importantly, all these studies align
as it is believed that early therapeutic
with our core research priorities:
interventions in patients with SMM
immunotherapies and antibodies,
will prevent/delay progression to overt
and novel agents and mechanisms.
MM. In the previous issue of Accelerator
Historically, a majority of MMRC
we described the MMRC’s first trial
trials have been focused on relapsed/
to evaluate the effects of an agent in
refractory disease. In the last two years
patients with SMM. The trial sponsored
a number of MMRC trials have been
by Janssen Biotech, Inc. is investigating
evaluating investigational agents in the
the effects of daratumumab, an anti-
upfront setting and in post-autologous
CD38 antibody in SMM patients. This
stem cell transplant. This year and going
drug is in late stage clinical development
forward, a major focus of the MMRC is to
for multiple myeloma and works by
expand into different myeloma-related
harnessing the body’s immune system
patient populations and open trials for
to destroy myeloma tumor cells. We
conditions associated with advanced
are pleased to report that the MMRC
disease conditions.
recently activated a second study
One of the areas that the MMRC will
be focusing on is Smoldering Multiple
Myeloma (SMM). SMM is one of the
Ghobrial, M.D., at the Dana-Farber
Cancer Institute (DFCI).
earliest forms of multiple myeloma
Dr. Ghobrial’s interest in pursuing
when malignant myeloma cells can
her study in SMM stemmed from a
be detected in the bone marrow but
recently reported randomized phase III
patients are not showing overt
signs of the disease such as
anemia, renal insufficiency
study in SMM patients in which active
drug treatment with lenalidomide
and dexamethasone was compared to
and bone lesions. This
placebo. The results demonstrated an
is an area of interest by
improved response rate, progression
many experts in the field,
10
in SMM, which is being led by Irene
free survival and overall survival in
T HE MMRF.ORG