Multiple myeloma is one of the rarest cancers which grows in plasma cells in blood. In 2022, an estimated 34,470 cases of multiple myeloma were recorded in the United States. The death toll went up to 12,640 in the United States. Only 55% of people can survive up to 5 years after a cancer diagnosis. Most people struggle to live that long after being diagnosed with multiple myeloma.
According to the International Myeloma Foundation, relapses of multiple myeloma are common. The majority of patients experience remissions and relapses numerous times over the course of their illness.
The initial remission stage may last two to three years or longer for those with no additional risk factors.
According to a study in 2016, relapse rates in 511 patients with multiple myeloma after therapy from 2006 to 2014 were examined.
16 percent of the individuals had an early relapse within a year. But 84% either experienced a relapse within a year or had none at the time of the follow-up.
Researchers keep on studying the disease to develop various refractory multiple myeloma treatments to increase the relative survival rate of patients.
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More About: New Multiple myeloma relapse treatment
On 25th October 2022, the FDA approved a new treatment for relapsed refractory multiple Myeloma. Tecvayli (Teclistamab) got accelerated approval from the FDA. Tecvayli is approved for those who did not respond positively to four or more treatment cycles.
As per the FDA, this is the first BCMA-directed CD3 T-cell engager drug. This drug for myeloma relapse works by sticking to certain kinds of T cells that attack the cancer cells after finding them.
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The approval of Tecvayli (Teclistamab)
Teclistamab was evaluated in the study named MajesTEC-1. The study sample comprised 110 patients who had already received three prior therapies. The study's main objective was to determine the overall response rate and the percentage of patients who showed reduced symptoms of relapsed multiple myeloma.
After the study, it was found that the overall response rate was 61.8%. In 90.6% of the patients, the positive response lasted more than six months. The positive response lasted for more than nine months in patients with excellent ORR.
Hence Tecvayli was granted accelerated approval.
What are the adverse effects of Tecvayli?
There are a few side effects linked to Tecvayli, as observed among 20% of the patients who were administered Tecvayli during the Clinical study:
Safety information concerning Tecvayli
- Tecvayli has a Boxed Warning for cytokine release syndrome, a disease in which the body releases an excessive amount of the inflammatory proteins known as cytokines.
- Hepatotoxicity, infections, neutropenia, hypersensitivity, and embryo-fetal toxicity are among the warnings and precautions related to Tecvayli.
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References:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35560063/
https://www.myeloma.org/treatments-subsequent-relapse
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5541860/
https://www.webmd.com/cancer/multiple-myeloma/refractory-multiple-myeloma