GSK data show potential for belantamab mafodotin in multiple myeloma

GSK plc announced new data from its DREAMM clinical program on May 27, 2020, reinforcing the potential of its investigational anti-BCMA antibody drug conjugate, belantamab mafodotin. The data, presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting, focus on patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma, a type of blood cancer.

Updated 13-month follow-up data from the DREAMM-2 study showed that single-agent belantamab mafodotin, administered at a 2.5 mg/kg dose every three weeks, achieved a median duration of response (DoR) of 11 months and a median overall survival (OS) of 13.7 months. The patient population was heavily pre-treated, having received a median of seven prior lines of therapy and being refractory to standard treatments. The overall response rate (ORR) was 32%, with a significant proportion achieving very good partial responses or better.

Dr Axel Hoos, Senior Vice President and Head of Oncology R&D at GSK, stated that the updated results demonstrate belantamab mafodotin's potential to address an unmet need for patients whose disease progresses despite available treatments. The company is encouraged by these findings as it works towards making the therapy available.

Longer-term follow-up did not reveal new safety concerns. The most common Grade 3 or higher adverse events included keratopathy (corneal changes) at 46% and thrombocytopenia at 22%. The company reported that the majority of keratopathy events were reversible, and no permanent vision loss has been reported to date.

Additionally, initial results from the DREAMM-6 study, evaluating belantamab mafodotin in combination with bortezomib and dexamethasone, showed a 78% ORR in patients with earlier stages of relapsed/refractory disease. GSK has submitted regulatory applications for belantamab mafodotin to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA).