Evaluating teclistamab for patients with recurrent or unresponsive multiple myeloma

This study evaluated the safety and effectiveness of teclistamab (JNJ-64007957) for patients with recurrent or unresponsive multiple myeloma (MM). This study concluded that this treatment was safe and showed promising effectiveness for these patients.

Multiple myeloma is a type of cancer of the bone marrow that can lead to abnormal immune cells. T-cell therapy has become a standard treatment for patients with MM. However, this treatment has side effects that can be a burden for patients. Antibody therapy is another treatment option.

Teclistamab is an antibody therapy that helps T cells (immune cells) attack cancer cells. Whether this agent is safe and effective for patients with recurrent or unresponsive MM is unclear.

This study included 157 patients with relapsed (cancer that came back) or refractory (hard to treat) MM. On average, patients had an average of 6 previous lines of treatment. This study had two parts. In Part 1, all patients received teclistamab. In Part 2, 40 patients were given a certain optimal dose of teclistamab, which was determined in Part 1. Patients were followed up for an average of 7.1 months.

The optimal dose of teclistamab determined for use for part 2 was 1500 µg/kg, after 60 µg/kg and 300 µg/kg step-up doses.

Overall, 65% of patients in Part 2 of the study responded to treatment. 40% of patients had no signs of cancer after treatment. 58% of patients achieved very good tumor shrinkage or better. At follow-up, 85% of patients who responded to treatment (22 patients) were still alive and continuing treatment.

Overall, 100% of all patients reported side effects. 85% of patients reported moderate or severe side effects. The most common ones were low white blood cell count (48%), low red blood cell count (33%), and low platelet count (cells involved in blood clotting, 23%). Infections were also common (60%).

57% of all patients developed mild cytokine release syndrome (CRS). This happens when many immune system molecules called cytokines are released into the blood. These molecules trigger a variety of symptoms in the body, like fever, nausea, and headache. 10 patients stopped treatment due to side effects.

This study concluded that teclistamab was safe and showed promising effectiveness for the treatment of relapsed or refractory MM. The authors suggest that this treatment may become an alternative option for patients who have exhausted standard treatments.

This study was funded by Janssen, the manufacturer of teclistamab. Studies comparing teclistamab to other treatments for relapsed or refractory MM are needed. The long-term safety and effectiveness of teclistamab remain under investigation.