Dr Ignatz-Hoover on the Future of CAR T-Cell Therapy and Bispecific Antibodies in R/R Myeloma

James Ignatz-Hoover, MD, PhD, hematologist/oncologist, University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center, discusses the future of treatment with CAR T-cell therapy and bispecific antibodies in patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma.

The next generation of CAR T-cell therapies is making significant strides in addressing several critical issues that have arisen in the management of multiple myeloma, such as reducing costs and enhancing efficacy, Ignatz-Hoover begins. These advancements are particularly timely given the recent expansion of various drug labels by the FDA, which is adding layers of complexity and interest to myeloma treatment, he explains. Bispecific T-cell engagers are among the promising developments, and several of these agents currently have accelerated FDA approvals for patients with myeloma, Ignatz-Hoover states. However, to transition these agents from provisional to full approval status, it is imperative to gather more comprehensive data on their adverse effect profiles and long-term clinical outcomes, he reports.

There is a burgeoning interest to identify the optimal niches for each of these agents, Ignatz-Hoover continues. Researchers and clinicians are diligently working to determine the best ways to incorporate these novel therapies into existing treatment protocols, he says. Specifically, there is a focus on how teclistamab-cqyv (Tecvayli) and talquetamab-tgvs (Talvey) can be effectively combined with other therapeutic agents, Ignatz-Hoover elucidates. This involves finding the right combinations and determining the most appropriate stages of treatment at which these combinations should be introduced, he notes.

Another critical area of exploration is the concept of response-adjusted therapy, he continues, adding that this approach involves tailoring treatment plans based on a patient’s response to initial therapies. Ignatz-Hoover says this potentially offers a more personalized and effective treatment regimen. Additionally, the possibility of incorporating treatment breaks is being examined, he adds. These breaks could provide patients with periods of respite from continuous treatment, which might improve their overall quality of life without compromising the efficacy of the treatment, Ignatz-Hoover concludes.