Belantamab Mafodotin Shows ‘Encouraging Results’ in Patients With Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma

A study sought to assess response rates, dose modifications, and frequency of ocular adverse events in patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma treated with belantamab mafodotin in a real-world setting. The trial was conducted by Malin Hultcrantz, MD, PhD, and colleagues, and presented at the 2021 American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting. 

This study enrolled 42 patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (55% women; median age = 67 years) treated with belantamab mafodotin at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center between October 2020 and July 2021. Twelve patients had been included in the Expanded Access Program with belantamab mafodotin prior to transitioning to commercial drug, the authors noted. Descriptive statistics were used to assess patient characteristics, response rates, and rates of adverse events. 

According to the results, the overall response rate (ORR) in all patients was 43%. Of these, seven patients achieved a partial response (PR), five patients achieved a very good partial response (VGPR), four patients achieved a complete response (CR), and one patient achieved a stringent CR. In a separate analysis of patients not included in the Expanded Access program, the ORR was 33%; five patients achieved a PR, four patients VGPR, and one patient CR. Two patients achieved a molecular response, three had stable disease, and 14 patients had progressive disease. Ten patients died at the conclusion of the analysis. 

Moreover, belantamab mafodotin dosing was reduced from 2.5 mg/kg to 1.92 mg/kg in 17 patients (16 patients due to ocular toxicity and 1 patient due to baseline cytopenia). The researchers noted that one or more doses were delayed in nine patients due to keratopathy; however, most patients were able to continue therapy with maintained response on a lower dose following treatment delay. 

Overall, the researchers concluded that these data “demonstrate encouraging results for belantamab mafodotin treatment in the real-world setting with responses and toxicities comparable to clinical trial subjects.”