Dr. Robert Orlowski Shares Linvoseltamab Benefits in Frontline Multiple Myeloma

Robert Orlowski, MD, PhD, of the MD Anderson Cancer Center, stopped by for an interview on the LINKER-MM4 trial during the 67th American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting & Exposition. The phase 1/2 trial evaluated linvoseltamab as a first-line regimen in patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma. “The reason we are interested in studying linvoseltamab is that the T-cell engagers targeting BCMA have shown some of the highest response rates and depths in the relapsed refractory setting,” Dr. Orlowski said. “It made sense to move it to the earlier lines where we used it as a single agent.” Dr. Orlowski and colleagues found that the safety profile was comparable to the relapsed or refractory patient population, including grade 1 cytokine release syndrome in 44% of patients and one event of immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome. As for efficacy, the overall response rate was 85% at the 200 mg dose, with 43% of patients achieving a complete response or better. Patients who achieved a very good partial response (CR) or better also achieved measurable residual disease (MRD) negativity. “We're now expanding the study to allow more patients to enroll at the 200 mg dose level,” Dr. Orlowski said. “We really feel that single agent linvoseltamab would be either an excellent agent by itself or an important part of a backbone for any combinations in the newly diagnosed setting. The goal is to get 100% CR and 100% MRD negativity.”