Rationale and Timing: The Evolving Role of BCMA-Targeted Therapies in Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma

Ryan Haumschild, Zahra Mahmoudjafari, Al-Ola Abdallah, and Anjulie Quick discussed the growing interest in introducing BCMA-targeted therapies earlier in the treatment continuum for relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM), noting that patients in earlier lines of therapy tend to have greater T-cell fitness and are more likely to tolerate treatment and achieve durable responses. Zahra Mahmoudjafari highlighted the trade-off inherent in this approach, acknowledging that while earlier use of these agents may yield stronger and more sustained responses, it also means utilizing options that have traditionally been reserved for later lines of therapy, making the decision highly patient-specific. The panelists noted that the rapid expansion of the BCMA-targeted therapy landscape, spanning chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapies, bispecific antibodies, and antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), continues to reshape how clinicians think about sequencing and timing across the treatment continuum.

Throughout the conversation, the experts provided a comprehensive reflection on the field and the factors that may shape how clinicians approach care moving forward.

In the next episode, 'BCMA Biology, Mechanisms of Action, and Unmet Needs in Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma,' panelists continue their discussion on relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma and highlight the biological rationale for targeting BCMA, the mechanisms of action that differentiate the three drug classes, the currently approved BCMA-targeted options, and the critical unmet needs these therapies are working to address.