Talquetamab for the treatment of relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma: a review of efficacy, safety, and real-world evidence

Talquetamab, a GPRC5D-targeting bispecific antibody, was FDA-approved in 2023 for relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma after 4 or more prior lines of therapy. In contrast to the historic overall response rate (ORR) of 29.5%, talquetamab monotherapy achieved a promising ORR of ~70% in a triple-class-exposed population. Real-world evidence supports talquetamab as a bridging therapy to CAR-T. Notable adverse drug reactions include CRS, dysgeusia, nail/skin toxicities, and infections, which are often manageable but can be persistent. Sequencing studies suggest talquetamab retains efficacy before or after BCMA-directed therapies without diminishing effectiveness. Potential future directions for talquetamab include combination regimens with other antimyeloma therapies. Additional GPRC5D-directed therapies are also under development, including trispecific antibodies and CAR-T.