Articles

Limited real-world evidence is available to describe the recent trends in multiple myeloma (MM) treatment costs and outcomes.

Daratumumab is a human CD38 IgGκ monoclonal antibody that demonstrated significant activity and a manageable safety profile when used in combination with bortezomib and dexamethasone for the treatment of patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma.

In 2015, the combination of bortez­omib, lenalidomide, and dexamethasone was shown to improve survival outcomes versus lenalidomide and dexamethasone alone in patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma. However, this triplet therapy also increased patients’ risk for severe peripheral neuropathy.

Daratumumab therapy is successful in patients with multiple myeloma who have received ≥3 previous lines of therapy, including a proteasome inhibitor and an immunomodulatory drug (IMiD), or whose disease is double-refractory to those other drugs.

In the long-term, phase 1b/2 PCYC-1102 clinical trial, single-agent ibrutinib, the first FDA-approved once-daily Bruton’s tyrosine kinase inhibitor, showed efficacy and good tolerability in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) or with small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL), including patients with deletion (del)17p.

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) occur mainly in older patients, who are likely to have several comorbidities and who often are unable to receive aggressive drug therapies, such as alkylating drugs, which are typically used for patients with CLL or SLL.

Elderly patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and younger patients with comorbidities often receive treatment with chlorambucil despite the relative low response rates.

In 2016, approximately 18,960 Americans were estimated to be diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), and 4660 were estimated to die from the disease.

It is estimated that 18,960 new cases of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) were diagnosed in 2016, and 4660 deaths.

Here's what to expect from the February issue of The Oncology Pharmacist.