Fredrik Schjesvold, MD, PhD, Discusses the Safety Profile of Melflufen/Dexamethasone in Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma

Video

CancerNetwork® sat down with Fredrik Schjesvold, MD, PhD, at the 2021 International Myeloma Workshop to discuss the differences in safety profiles between melflufen/dexamethasone and pomalidomide/dexamethasone in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma.

At the 2021 International Myeloma Workshop, CancerNetwork® spoke with Fredrik Schjesvold, MD, PhD, founder and head of the Oslo Myeloma Center, about the differences in safety profile between melflufen (Pepaxto)/dexamethasone and pomalidomide (Pomalyst)/dexamethasone, as seen in the phase 3 OCEAN trial (NCT03151811).

Transcript:

[Regarding the safety profile], there were differences, mainly in cytopenias where there were more cytopenias of all kinds for melflufen. [However], there were more infections in the pomalidomide arm. It seems that an increase in neutropenia doesn’t give any more infections. The safety problem for melflufen is in patients who are transplanted, who seem to have prolonged cytopenia after the treatment [with] melflufen, which probably makes them less tolerant of further treatment. That’s what's adding onto the survival detriment in the patients who are transplanted from before, because it seems like it's the patients who are transplanted from before who do get this prolonged bone marrow suppression from melflufen and we don’t see that in non-transplanted patients. Safety wise, as long as the treatment was ongoing, there were no big signals. The problem is after the treatment is over, [and patients] move on to the next treatment [and] you see that transplant in patients. Plus melflufen gives a longer-term problem.

Reference

Schjesvold F, Dimopoulos MA, Delimpasi S, et al. OCEAN (OP-103): a Phase 3, randomized, global, head-to-head comparison study of melflufen and dexamethasone (Dex) versus pomalidomide (Pom) and dex in relapsed refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM). Presented at: International Myeloma Workshop; September 8-11, 2021; Vienna, Austria. Accessed September 11, 2021.

Recent Videos
Preliminary phase 2 trial data show durvalumab plus lenalidomide was superior to durvalumab alone in refractory/advanced cutaneous T-cell lymphoma.
4 experts are featured in this series.
4 experts are featured in this series.
Performance status, age, and comorbidities may impact benefit seen with immunotherapy vs chemotherapy in patients with breast cancer.
Developing odronextamab combinations following CAR T-cell therapy failure may help elicit responses in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.
4 experts are featured in this series.
Cytokine release syndrome was primarily low or intermediate in severity, with no grade 5 instances reported among those with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.