mAb can reduce CSCs in newly diagnosed MM

At the end of cycle 5, MM CSCs had increased in 4 of the 10 patients who were still on len-dex. By the end of cycle 7, MM CSCs had increased in 8 of the patients.

Circulating MM CSCs increased by the end of cycle 4 in 2 patients, and both had progressed by end of cycle 7.

Safety and next steps

The investigators said there were no serious adverse events in this trial, but 2 patients experienced grade 2 infusion reactions after the first MEDI-551 dose.

The team plans to conduct further studies to assess the long-term impact of MED-551 in MM patients and determine how the mAb might work in combination with other treatments, particularly transplant.

“In other studies at Johns Hopkins, we have found that antibody therapies can work much better after a bone marrow transplant, especially allogeneic transplants,” Dr Matsui said.

Funding and drugs for this study were provided by MedImmune Inc., the developers of MEDI-551. Drs Huff and Matsui served as a paid scientific advisory board member and a consultant to MedImmune Inc., respectively.