Multiple Myeloma

Interventions of Interest:

• Carfilzomib (Kyprolis®, Onyx)
• Daratumumab (Darzalex®, Janssen Bitoech)
• Elotuzumab (Empliciti®, Bristol MeyersSquibb)
• Ixazomib (Ninlaro®, Takeda)
• Panobinostat (Farydak®, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp.)
• Pomalidomide (Pomalyst®, Celgene)

Multiple myeloma is a cancer of the blood in which the bone marrow produces a high number of cancerous plasma cells. The excessive growth of plasma cells can cause bone damage, anemia, hypercalcemia (high calcium levels in the blood), neutropenia (low counts of a certain type of white blood cell), and kidney failure. There is no cure for multiple myeloma, but its progression can be relatively slow. Many patients undergo multiple rounds of treatment, followed by remission and subsequent relapse.

The Council votes on the long-term care value of the treatment regimens were divided between “low” and “intermediate” value, with a majority of the Council favoring “intermediate” value for all second-line combinations (CFZ, ELO, or IX +LEN+DEX). For third-line combinations, a majority of the Council considered ELO+LEN+DEX to be low care value, and the combination of either CFZ or IX with LEN+DEX to represent intermediate care value. Votes were evenly split between low care value and intermediate care value for the combination of PAN+BOR+DEX.

For questions, contact info@icer.org.