New data reinforce daratumumab as standard of care for multiple myeloma

Long-term survival projections suggest improved outcomes for patients

New data from Janssen-Cilag International NV suggest that subcutaneous DARZALEX (daratumumab) quadruplet therapy could offer a longer progression free survival for patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma. Findings were presented at the 6th European Myeloma Network meeting in Athens.

Analysis based on the PERSEUS and CEPHEUS trials showed significant improvements in survival projections. Patients eligible for transplant treated with daratumumab-VRd had a median progression free survival estimate of 17.1 years, compared to 7.3 years for those receiving VRd without daratumumab.

Pieter Sonneveld, Head of Hematology at Erasmus University Medical Center, said: “The PFS projections presented indicate that people with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma who are eligible for transplant and treated with the PERSEUS regimen may live more than 17 years without their disease progressing.”

The PERSEUS trial included transplant eligible patients with a median age of 60, while the CEPHEUS trial studied both eligible and ineligible patients with a median age of 70. In PERSEUS, daratumumab-VRd with maintenance therapy reduced the risk of progression or death by 58 percent. In CEPHEUS, daratumumab-VRd reduced this risk by 43 percent.

Long-term modelling is increasingly used to inform economic and clinical decisions when median progression free survival has not yet been reached. In the CEPHEUS trial, patients ineligible for transplant saw estimates of 8.3 years for daratumumab-VRd compared to 4.4 years for VRd.

Edmond Chan, EMEA Therapeutic Area Lead Haematology at Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine, said: “These PFS projections suggest that some patients receiving daratumumab-VRd could potentially remain progression free and offers them hope of living an average life expectancy.”

Romosozumab was approved in the EU in December 2019 for treating severe osteoporosis in postmenopausal women at high fracture risk. Research continues to strengthen its position in osteoporosis management.