Dr. Vesole on the Mechanism of Action of Belantamab Mafodotin in Multiple Myeloma

David H. Vesole, MD, PhD, director of the Myeloma Program at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, professor of medicine at Georgetown University, co-director of the Myeloma Division and director of Myeloma Research at John Theurer Cancer Center at Hackensack University Medical Center, discusses the mechanism of action of belantamab mafodotin-blmf (Blenrep) in multiple myeloma.

Belantamab mafodotin is the first BCMA-directed therapy to receive regulatory approval in the multiple myeloma, says Vesole.

Notably, the antibody-drug conjugate consists of a ​BCMA-directed antibody ​that is conjugated to a chemotherapy drug​, Vesole explains. Furthermore, the monoclonal antibody attaches to the myeloma cell ​and is endocytosed.

​Then, lysozymes break down the link between the chemotherapy drug and the antibody, which allows the chemotherapy to ​effectively kill the ​cancer cell from within​, says Vesole.

Ultimately, belantamab mafodotin offers an option for patients who have exhausted multiple other available therapies​, concludes Vesole.