The world of immunotherapy in multiple myeloma is exploding - with new treatments being FDA-approved and others working their way through the FDA approval process. In this show, Dr. Paul Richardson focuses on the innovation in immunotherapy that we've seen in the first half of 2025. This includes a discussion about CAR T, bispecific and trispecific antibodies, and a deeper dive on a new class of drugs in myeloma called Antibody Drug Conjugates, with a drug called belantamab mafodotin going through the FDA review process, with a hopeful approval in October of this year.
Multiple myeloma treatment is advancing in promising ways. Learn about mid-year updates in multiple myeloma from the ASCO and EHA conferences and what to expect from the upcoming International Myeloma Society (IMS) meeting with Paul Richardson, MD, Dana Farber Cancer Institute.
Learn more about Minimal Residual Disease (MRD) testing and how it’s being used today in research and for your myeloma care. Join Rafael Fonseca, MD, Mayo Clinic to learn when MRD testing should be done and how the results should be used in myeloma care
Through her extensive (and continuing) research, Dr. Urvi Shah, a multiple myeloma specialist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, is determined to find answers to the often-asked question by patients with precursor myeloma conditions, “What diet is best for me?” lCan a plant based diet affect your overall health? Can it affect your blood cancer progression or time to relapse? What does the science say about it, and what questions still need to be answered? Join us to discuss these topics and answer these questions and more. HealthTree is working with Dr. Urvi Shah's team at MSK in "Nutrivention-2", a national, multi-arm, randomized prospective telehealth study for MGUS and smoldering myeloma patients. This study will explore the microbial changes in response to a plant-based diet and supplements in smoldering myeloma patients. You can learn more about it HERE. If you're interested and want more information, please contact our support team - support@healthtree.org.
Bispecific antibodies are a growing class of treatment in multiple myeloma. Learn from global expert and International Myeloma Society (IMS) President Dr. Philippe Moreau about the advances being made in bispecific antibodies and what clinicians are learning about how and when to best use this therapy. Dr. Moreau will provide a review of approved and in-development bispecific antibodies, side effect management and more. Learn how HealthTree and IMS are partnering on the HealthTree Bispecific Antibody Study to provide more data and patient experiences to help the research community come to faster conclusions about this new, exciting treatment.
Learn about what's here and what's coming in 2025 in multiple myeloma care with myeloma expert Robert Orlowski, MD, PhD
New discoveries in multiple myeloma are made possible through a deep understanding of the disease. Many researchers contribute significantly to these breakthroughs by performing essential lab work, often without ever treating patients directly. In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Brian Van Ness, a PhD researcher from the University of Minnesota who has dedicated decades to studying the biology and genetics of multiple myeloma. Dr. Van Ness shares how his lab research has laid the foundation for new insights into this complex disease and how his unwavering love for patients has driven his work during his extensive career. Tune in to learn how cutting-edge research translates into better outcomes for the myeloma community and how researchers like Dr. Van Ness are shaping the future of care.
Learn about the latest in multiple myeloma advances with Paul Richardson, MD who will cover the recent American Society of Hematology and European Hematology Association meeting findings.
Dr. Morie Gertz joins the HealthTree Podcast for Multiple Myeloma to share the challenges, treatments and futures of AL amyloidosis and invites amyloidosis patients to join this survey about their diagnosis experience.
Dr. Ola Landgren shares a clinical trial about smoldering myeloma. Join the REVIVE trial study for high-risk smoldering myeloma study here. He also share about his research partnership with HealthTree on a personalized medicine study that creates a computerized model of risk prediction and treatment recommendations for newly diagnosed patients. This is a study that is open to all myeloma patients regardless of where they are being treated. The only involvement by patients is to sign a consent form and connect their medical records which requires less than 5 minutes of participation.
Dr. Clifton Mo of Dana Farber Cancer Institue shares a multitude of tools available in the myeloma toolbox. This includes all of the "standard of care" drugs that we are familiar with such as immunomodulators, proteasome inhibitors, steroids, monoclonal antibodies as well as tools in development. He reviews triplet combo treatment options at first relapse and his preference to use Kyprolis in the mix, especially when given a more aggressive myeloma. Dr. Mo explains how antibody drug conjugates (ADCs) work and how the first ADC, BLENREP, may be making a comeback. He shares how dexamethasone can be reduced or stopped under certain conditions. He explains BCL-2 inhibitors like venetoclax and how they are making their way through clinical trials. Dr. Mo describes celmods and how they work and are a promising new class of drugs. He also described how an XPO1 inhibitor called selinexor is being used both with the celmods and alone as an agent that works well for higher risk myeloma. This shows myeloma patients how fortunate we are to have these tools available and speaks to the importance of having a myeloma specialist on your team who can help you make treatment decisions. This can be done alone or in partnership with your local oncologist. There is data that shows that having a specialist on year team leads to longer life.
Learn how bispecific antibodies are being used in multiple myeloma care and how physicians are helping patients manage side effects using new approaches like fixed-duration therapy.
The year 2024 brings new promise in multiple myeloma with a wide variety of treatment options avaiable for both newly diagnosed and relapsed/refractory patients. Learn about the progress being made and the very latest in determining risk at diagnosis, strategies for smoldering myeloma patients, optimal treatments for newly diagnosed patients, things to consider at first relapse and beyond. Dr. Robert Orlowski will review advances in CAR T therapies, bispecific antibodies, targeted therapies and combination approaches and clinical trials to watch as the research continues advancing at a rapid pace in myeloma. Thanks to our episode sponsor, GSK.
CAR T therapy is a highly effective treatment for myeloma patients, even in highly relapsed multiple myeloma. In today's show we will hear from Luciano Costa, MD of the University of Burmingham who will do a deep dive into CAR T therapy in multiple myeloma to discuss how CAR T availability is improving, how CAR T is being tested in earlier lines of therapy, side effects to consider, new CAR T targets, combo CAR Ts, maintenance therapy post-CAR T, open CAR T clinical trials and various new forms CAR T variants like NK CAR Ts. Join us for this important show on one of the most impressive therapies ever developed in myeloma! Thanks to our episode sponsor, Menarini Silicon Biosystems
Dr. Paul Richardson of the Dana Farber Cancer Institute shares a mid-year myeloma review of ASCO, EHA and upcoming International Myeloma Society findings of the fast-moving research being performed in myeloma. Updates will include the expanding world of bispecific antibodies that include one FDA-approved drug and anticipated approvals for two new bispecific antibodies. He will also discuss exciting results from CAR T cinical trials, CAR T newcomers, sequencing preferences, BCMA targeted therapies, new therapy targets in myeloma, MRD advances, blood-based testing, clinical trials end points and more. Thanks to our episode sponsor, Karyopharm.
Stem cell transplant remains a useful and widely used treatment for multiple myeloma. John DiPersio, MD, PhD of the Siteman Cancer Center at Washington University joins HealthTree Podcast for Multiple Myeloma to discuss stem cell transplant in myeloma, a new and better way to collect stem cells as part of the process and the utility of stem cell transplant in the age of immunotherapies. Thanks to our episode sponsor, GSK
The cure for multiple myeloma only happens with patient participation in research. In this episode, Faith Davies, MBBCh, MRCP, MD, FRCPath of the NYU Langone will share how research works in multiple myeloma, the various stages in clinical trials, the most critical steps that move curative therapies forward, how barriers to a cure can be removed and how patient participation is essential to the entire process. Thanks to our episode sponsor, GSK
Minimal Residual Disease (MRD) testing is a more sensitive way to test for remaining disease following myeloma treatment. Its use could change the way experts treat multiple myeloma now and in the future. MRD testing may help determine which patients should stay on treament or which patients are able to stop if they stay MRD negative for a long period of time. It may help prevent over or under treating patients. In this show Benjamin Derman, MD of the University of Chicago shares what MRD testing is, how it's being used in clinical trials as a new clinical trial end point, what the FDA wants to see in clinical trial data, how it could be used to determine if treatment can stop baesd on a patient's status, why it's needed and when it should be used. Patients can take advantage of the progress in testing to truly personalize and optimize their care. Thanks to our episode sponsor, Menarini Silicon Biosystems
A wave of blood-based tests are being researched for myeloma care, and for good reason. Patients love the idea of replacing the painful bone marrow biopsy with a blood-based test, especially if it is equally effective. In addition to being less time consuming and painful, blood-based testing could be performed more regularly to provide more information to patients and their doctors. The types of test vary. They include mass spectometry testing, blood-based MRD testing and circulating tumor cell testing. Many of these tools are still only used in research, but they are getting closer to being used in the myeloma clinic. Each of the tests have unique ways of providing a less invasive way of testing for myeloma at diagnosis and after treatment. Ola Landgren, MD, PhD of the University of Miami Sylvester Cancer Center joins HealthTree Podcast for Multiple Myeloma to review the different types of tests, how they function, what they measure, pros and cons of each and how they are and could be used in regular myeloma practice. As we continue to see these tests advance, it's a great idea to start becoming more familiar with the test types, test names and reasons for their use. Thanks to our episode sponsor, GSK
Dr. Noa Biran of Hackensack University joins HealthTree Podcast for Multiple Myeloma to discuss a completely new approach targeting CD38, which is found on most myeloma cells. The drug called modafakusp alpha (formerly known as TAK-573) uses a new method of targeting CD38 by combining a monoclonal antibody with interferon. Early trial results are showing that this treatment option could also work for patients who relapsed after anti-CD38 monoclonal antibodies like daratumumab and isatuximab. Inteferon is a human hormone that has been previously used in myeloma care because it can both kill the myeloma cells directly and engage the immune system to fight the myeloma, but it had many intolerable side effects. In this new form combined with modafakusp alpha, the side effects are significantly reduced. This new drug is now in clinical trials being tested with common myeloma therapies like dexamethasone, daratumumab, proteasome inhibitors and immunomodulators. Learn about this new treatment option in this informative show. Having new treatment options, especially after patients have relapsed after the three most common drug classes (proteasome inhibitors, immunomodulators and anti-CD38 monoclonal antibodies) is a blessing for relapsed or refractory patients.