Expert OpinionThe triplet regimens of lenalidomide, bortezomib and dexamethasone (VRd) and pomalidomide, bortezomib and dexamethasone (PVd) have both received a positive opinion from the European Medicines Agency’s (EMA) Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) for the treatment of multiple myeloma (MM). A final decision by the European Commission is expected to take another two months, though usually follows the CHMP opinion.1
Indications
- VRd: patients with previously untreated MM who are ineligible for transplant
- Based on the results of the SWOG S0777 trial (Table 1)2
- PVd triplet: lenalidomide-exposed patients with relapsed/refractory MM (RRMM) who have received 1–3 prior lines of treatment
- Based on the results of the OPTIMISMM trial (Table 2)3,4
Background
Lenalidomide and pomalidomide are both immunomodulatory drugs (IMiDs) that are administered orally and are hypothesized to have multiple mechanisms of action. Both drugs have previously been approved in other combinations:5
- Lenalidomide is approved for use in patients with newly diagnosed MM who are ineligible for transplant, in combination with low-dose dexamethasone.
- Pomalidomide has been approved in combination with dexamethasone and is indicated in the 3rd line treatment of adults with RRMM.
VRd triplet2
Table 1: Summary of the SWOG S0777 trial
|
Trial name |
SWOG S0777 |
|
NCT reference |
|
|
Phase |
III |
|
Number of patients (N) |
525 |
|
Randomization |
1:1 - VRd:Rd |
|
Dosing VRd
|
Eight 21-day cycles Intravenous (IV) bortezomib 1.3 mg/m2, on days 1, 4, 8 and 11 Oral lenalidomide 25 mg, on days 1–14 Oral dexamethasone 20 mg, on days 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 9, 11 and 12 |
|
Dosing Rd |
Six 28-day cycles Oral lenalidomide 25 mg, on days 1–21 Oral dexamethasone 40 mg on days 1, 8, 15 and 22 |
|
Maintenance |
Oral lenalidomide 25 mg once daily for 21 days Oral dexamethasone 40 mg once daily for days 1, 8, 15 and 22 of each 28-day cycle |
|
Efficacy (given as VRd vs Rd) |
Median progression-free survival (PFS): 43 vs 30 months (HR 0.712, 96% CI, 0.56–0.906, P = 0.0018) Median overall survival (OS): 75 vs 64 months (HR 0·709, 95% CI 0·524–0·959, P = 0.025) Overall response rate (ORR): 82% vs 72% Complete response (CR): 16% vs 8% |
|
Safety |
Consistent with the individual safety profiles of each drug alone Most common grade ≥3 events that were partially attributable to treatment:
Neurological events: more frequent in VRd group compared to Rd group (33% vs 11%, P < 0.0001) |
PVd triplet1,3,4
Table 2: Summary of the OPTIMISMM trial
|
Trial name |
OPTIMISMM |
|
NCT reference |
|
|
Phase |
III |
|
Number of patients (N) |
559 71% vs 69% of patients were refractory to lenalidomide (PVd vs Vd arm) |
|
Randomization |
1:1 - PVd:Vd – patients were stratified based on age, anti-myeloma treatment and β-microglobulin levels |
|
Dosing PVd
|
21-day cycles: Pomalidomide 4 mg daily on days 1–14 Bortezomib 1.3 mg/m2 on days 1, 4, 8 and 11 of cycles 1–8 and on days 1 and 8 of cycle 9 onwards: Dexamethasone 20 mg (dose was 10 mg for patients > 75 years old) on the same day and the day after bortezomib in all 21-day cycles |
|
Efficacy (given as PVd vs Vd) |
Median follow-up: 16 months Median PFS: 11.2 vs 7.1 months 39% reduction in the risk of disease progression or death (HR 0.61, 95% CI, 0.49–0.77, P ≤ 0.001) |
|
Subgroup analysis in patients with one prior line of therapy |
Median PFS: 20.73 vs 11.63 months (HR 0.54, P = 0.0027) Benefit of PVd was independent of whether patients were refractory or non-refractory to prior lenalidomide |
|
Safety |
Consistent with the individual safety profiles of each drug alone |
