Isatuximab in addition to carfilzomib and dexamethasone for relapsed and/or refractory multiple myeloma

Isatuximab in addition to carfilzomib and dexamethasone is in clinical development for patients with multiple myeloma (MM) who are refractory or have relapsed to prior treatments. MM is a rare, incurable cancer of the plasma cells in the bone marrow where large amounts of abnormal plasma cells are produced and interfere with the production of red and white blood cells and platelets. People with MM will experience periods of time without symptoms followed by periods when the illness comes back (‘relapsed’ MM). Eventually the periods without symptoms will shorten and the illness will become immune to the drugs given to treat it (‘refractory’ MM).
Isatuximab is a monoclonal antibody designed to recognise and attach to a specific target on the surface of cells involved in MM. This action activates certain components of the immune system so that they kill the cancerous plasma cells. Carilzomib combined with dexamethasone is already used for the treatment of MM. The addition of isatuximab to this combination may potentially improve outcomes in patients with relapsed and/or refractory MM who have received other prior therapies.