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FDA Approves Daratumumab for Multiple Myeloma Ineligible for Autologous Stem Cell Transplant

Approval is based on evidence from the MAIA study
05 Jul 2019
Cytotoxic Therapy
Haematological Malignancies

On 27 June 2019, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved daratumumab (DARZALEX, Janssen Biotech, Inc.) in combination with lenalidomide and dexamethasone for patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma who are ineligible for autologous stem cell transplant.

Approval was based on MAIA (NCT02252172), an open-label, randomised (1:1), active-controlled phase III study, comparing dartumumab (16 mg/kg) in combination with lenalidomide and low-dose dexamethasone (DRd) to lenalidomide and low-dose dexamethasone (Rd), in 737 patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma who were ineligible for autologous stem cell transplant.

The trial demonstrated an improvement in progression-free survival (PFS) in the DRd arm compared with the Rd arm. The median PFS had not been reached in the DRd arm and was 31.9 months in the Rd arm (HR 0.56; 95% CI: 0.43, 0.73; p < 0.0001). The median time to response was 1.05 months (range: 0.2 to 12.1 months) in the DRd group and 1.05 months (range: 0.3 to 15.3 months) in the Rd group. The median response duration had not been reached in the DRd group and was 34.7 months (95% CI: 30.8, not estimable) in the Rd group.

Daratumumab can cause severe and/or serious infusion reactions, including anaphylactic reactions. Approximately half of all patients in clinical trials experienced an infusion reaction. Patients should be pre‑medicated with antihistamines, antipyretics and corticosteroids. Frequently monitor patients during the entire infusion is recommended.

In newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients who received daratumumab in combination with lenalidomide and dexamethasone, the most frequent (≥20%) adverse reactions were infusion reactions, diarrhoea, constipation, nausea, peripheral oedema, fatigue, back pain, asthenia, pyrexia, upper respiratory tract infection, bronchitis, pneumonia, decreased appetite, muscle spasms, peripheral sensory neuropathy, dyspnoea and cough.

The recommended daratumumab dose is 16 mg/kg actual body weight.

Full prescribing information for drugs used in combination and schedule is available here.

This application used the Real-Time Oncology Review. FDA granted this application priority review.

Healthcare professionals should report all serious adverse events suspected to be associated with the use of any medicine and device to FDA’s MedWatch Reporting System.

Last update: 05 Jul 2019

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