Dr Maximilian Merz speaks to ecancer about the results of the phase 3 IKEMA study, which evaluated isatuximab + Kd vs Kd alone in the treatment of patients with RRMM.

Dr Merz reviews the IKEMA trial, which had a primary endpoint of PFS and key secondary endpoints that included CR, VGPR, and MRD-. He notes that the primary endpoint was met and the PFS benefit corresponded to a 47% reduction in the risk of disease progression or death (HR=0.531; 99% CI: 0.318, 0.889; P=0.0013).

Dr Merz goes on to describe the depth of response data, which saw 73% of patients achieving ≥VGPR and 40% achieving CR when isatuximab was added to Kd. For patients in the Kd arm, the response was 56% ≥VGPR and 28% CR. Additionally, he notes that nearly 1 in 3 patients achieved MRD- in IKEMA, characterising this as a very high rate for patients at first relapse. 

Dr Merz explains that to maximise long-term outcomes, it is important to find treatments that deliver high rates of VGPR, CR, and MRD-, such as those seen in the IKEMA trial.

In IKEMA there were a greater number of grade ≥3 TEAEs with isatuximab + Kd vs Kd alone (77% vs 67%). Serious TEAEs were comparable between the two arms (59% vs 57%). Discontinuation rate of isatuximab + Kd was 8.5% vs 13.9% in the Kd arm alone.

After commenting on the safety profile of isatuximab + Kd, Dr Merz discusses his personal experience with prescribing isatuximab + Kd, highlighting the patient types that in his practice see the most benefit.

“In my own practice, it’s very important to emphasise that the combination of isatuximab with [a] proteasome inhibitor…is highly effective, especially in patients who…experience aggressive relapse, for example, on lenalidomide maintenance therapy,” Dr Merz concludes. 

CR=complete response; Kd=carfilzomib and dexamethasone; MRD-=minimal residual disease negative/negativity; PFS=progression-free survival; VGPR=very good partial response.

ecancer's filming has been kindly supported by Sanofi through the ecancer Global Foundation.

The content of this video is based on the SARCLISA^® EU Summary of Product Characteristics which can be accessed by clicking the link below:

https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/product-information/sarclisa-epar-product-information_en.pdf

Sanofi does not recommend the use of its products in any manner inconsistent with that described in the label available in your country. Please refer to your local product labelling information before prescribing; view your country-specific product labelling information here. If this link does not directly go to your country-specific product labelling information, it can be accessed from the bottom of the screen here.

MAT-GLB-2200361(1.0) 05/22