Immunotherapy in Multiple Myeloma: Recent Developments in Monoclonal Antibodies, Bispecifics and Antibody-Drug Conjugates

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a hematological malignancy that accounts for 1% of all cancers. It is characterized by the accumulation of clonal plasma cells within the bone marrow, which can lead to the disruption of normal hematopoiesis and abnormal production of immunoglobulins. Although significant therapeutic advancements have been made with the introduction of immunomodulatory drugs, proteasome inhibitors, monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), immunoconjugates, bispecific antibodies and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy, MM remains an incurable disease marked by repeated episodes of remission and relapse. This review article discusses recent data on some emerging treatments for MM, including CD38-targeting mAbs daratumumab and isatuximab, bispecific antibody cevostamab and antibody-drug conjugate belantamab mafodotin, presented at the European Hematology Association (EHA) Hybrid Congress 2024 and the 66th American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting and Exposition, including updates from the IMROZ, BENEFIT, GMMG-HD7, CASSIOPEIA, PERSEUS, DREAMM-7, DREAMM-8 and CAMMA 2 clinical trials. PEER REVIEWED ARTICLE Peer reviewers: Dr Adrian Schmidt, Stadtspital Zurich Triemli, Zurich, Switzerland One anonymous peer reviewer Received on December 13, 2024; accepted after peer review on December 24, 2024; published online on December 27, 2024.