Dr Raje on the DREAMM-7 and DREAMM-8 Trials in Multiple Myeloma

Noopur S. Raje, MD, director, Center for Multiple Myeloma, Massachusetts General Hospital, Mass General Brigham, and Yan Leyfman, MD, internal medicine and clinical researcher, Mount Sinai; co-founder, executive director, MedNews Week; executive committee member, Music Beats Cancer, discuss the phase 3 DREAMM-7 (NCT04246047) and DREAMM-8 (NCT04484623) trials on OncLive® News Network: On Location at the 2024 ASCO Annual Meeting.

Belantamab mafodotin-blmf (Blenrep) has experienced a turbulent journey in multiple myeloma, Raje begins. Initially, this agent was withdrawn from the United States market; however, at the 2024 ASCO Annual Meeting, significant new data were presented that shed light on its potential efficacy, she explains. In addition to the DREAMM-8 data, the conference featured findings from the DREAMM-7 study, Raje reports.

Belantamab mafodotin is an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) targeting BCMA, she continues. This drug is noteworthy as it represents the first ADC developed for this purpose, Raje says. DREAMM-7 explores the use of belantamab mafodotin in combination with bortezomib (Velcade) and dexamethasone (BVd) compared with the combination of daratumumab (Darzalex), bortezomib, and dexamethasone (DVd) in patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma. The results from DREAMM-7 are promising, showing a benefit in progression-free survival (PFS) with BVd vs DVd and indicating a trend toward improved overall survival with BVd, she elucidates.

The DREAMM-8 study examined belantamab mafodotin combined with pomalidomide (Pomalyst) and dexamethasone compared with the triplet combination of pomalidomide, bortezomib, and dexamethasone. This study also demonstrated an improvement in PFS with the belantamab mafodotin–based regimen, Raje explains.

DREAMM-7 and DREAMM-8 are poised to play a crucial role in reintroducing belantamab mafodotin into the multiple myeloma treatment paradigm, she continues. Both studies showed efficacy with the agent in the relapsed/refractory setting. The data presented at ASCO in 2024 will be critical in determining the future role of belantamab mafodotin in myeloma and could mark a significant step forward in the treatment of patients with this disease, particularly those who have relapsed on or are refractory to existing treatments, Raje concludes.