Multiple myeloma is an incurable cancer characterized by an excessive proliferation of plasma cells. It is the second most common hematological cancer and mainly affects people over 65 years of age, most often men. Although current treatments have substantially improved survival, most myeloma patients continue to relapse, making it necessary to seek new therapeutic alternatives.

An international clinical trial essay coordinated by Dr. Jesús San Miguel, director scientist of the CIMA and director of Translational Medicine of the Clínica Universidad de Navarra, has shown that a combination of drugs significantly improves the outcomes of newly diagnosed patients with multiple myeloma. The results have been published in the latest issue of the New England Journal of Medicine, one of the scientific publications with the highest international impact.

The ALCYONE study, conducted in 706 patients, confirms that the administration of daratumumab together with conventional treatment (bortezomib, melphalan and prednisone) decreases the risk of progression and death by up to 50 percent in newly diagnosed patients who are not candidates for transplantation. "In addition, after a 16.5-month follow-up, patients had a threefold increase in the rate of minimal residual disease negativity, which is the most important prognostic factor for myeloma patients," explains Dr. San Miguel, researcher senior author of the study.

According to Dr. María Victoria Mateos, principal investigator of the ALCYONE study and director of the Myeloma Unit at the University Hospital of Salamanca-IBSAL Salamanca, "it is essential to choose the correct treatment guideline for newly diagnosed patients, especially if they are not suitable for transplantation, because these patients are usually older and more fragile".

Dr. San Miguel stresses the importance of clinical trials for progress in disease survival. "In fact, in this field they published 10 years ago, also in the New England Journal of Medicine, that adding bortezomib to melphalan and prednisone increased survival by more than one year. Now the addition of daratumumab reduces the risk of relapse by 50%."  

"The results of the ALCYONE study reveal the clinical benefit daratumumab offers to previously untreated patients," said Dr. Catherine Taylor, head of Janssen Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) Hematology therapeutics area .