Daratumumab: A Review in Combination Therapy for Transplant-Eligible Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma

Intravenous daratumumab (DARZALEX (R)), a human monoclonal antibody targeting CD38, is approved in the EU and USA for use in combination with bortezomib, thalidomide and dexamethasone for the treatment of adults with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (MM) who are eligible for autologous stem cell transplantation. A subcutaneous formulation of daratumumab has also been approved in the EU and USA (DARZALEXFASPRO (TM)) for use in MM. In the pivotal phase III CASSIOPEIA trial in adults with newly diagnosed, transplant-eligible MM, the addition of intravenous daratumumab to bortezomib, thalidomide and dexamethasone significantly increased the proportion of patients with a stringent complete response and significantly prolonged progression-free survival; overall survival data are not yet mature. Some facets of health-related quality of life were improved by the addition of daratumumab. The addition of daratumumab had a minimal effect on overall toxicity and the most common grade >= 3 adverse events with daratumumab combination therapy were haematological (e.g. neutropenia, lymphopenia). The approval of daratumumab as combination therapy in patients with newly diagnosed, transplant-eligible MM expands the range of MM treatment settings in which daratumumab is an option and the availability of the subcutaneous formulation will likely be of benefit to patients.