New Antibody Therapy Shows Promise Against Multiple Myeloma

Treatment with a novel antibody therapy has shown the potential to eliminate residual traces of multiple myeloma, a type of blood cancer, according to interim results from a clinical trial. Researchers at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center of the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine conducted the trial, with findings set to be presented on December 6, 2025, at the annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology in Orlando.

The clinical trial involved 18 patients who underwent up to six cycles of treatment with the bispecific antibody linvoseltamab. Remarkably, none of these patients exhibited detectable disease on highly sensitive tests designed to uncover minimal residual disease (MRD). This preliminary success raises the possibility that linvoseltamab could help patients avoid traditional bone marrow transplants, which often require intensive chemotherapy.

Research Insights and Future Implications

Lead researcher Dickran Kazandjian, M.D., a physician at Sylvester and professor in the Myeloma Division, emphasized the significance of the findings. “These patients received modern and effective, up-front treatment that eliminated 90% of their tumor,” he stated. “Instead of high-dose chemotherapy and transplant, we give them a treatment with the drug linvoseltamab.”

Colleague C. Ola Landgren, M.D., Ph.D., director of the Sylvester Myeloma Institute, characterized the results as “extremely impressive.” He expressed optimism regarding the long-term prospects for these patients, suggesting that a robust response in such a short time could lead to years without recurrence. “Could it never come back in some patients? I would say it’s possible,” Landgren added.

Multiple myeloma originates from plasma cells, which are immune cells that produce antibodies. When these cells become cancerous, they interfere with normal blood cell production, leading to various health complications. According to the U.S. National Cancer Institute, over 192,000 Americans were living with multiple myeloma in 2022, and an estimated 36,000 new cases will be diagnosed this year.

Trial Details and Mechanisms of Action

The ongoing phase 2 clinical trial, conducted at Sylvester and its satellite sites in Coral Gables and Deerfield Beach, has enrolled a total of 25 patients who tested positive for MRD following combination therapy. Participants are receiving four to six cycles of linvoseltamab treatment. Unlike traditional therapeutic antibodies that bind to a single target, bispecific antibodies like linvoseltamab target two proteins: CD3 on T cells and BCMA on multiple myeloma cells. This dual targeting enhances the immune system’s ability to combat cancer.

While some patients experienced side effects, including neutropenia and upper respiratory infections, these events remained within an acceptable safety profile, according to Kazandjian. Notably, the researchers implemented preventative measures to avoid serious reactions associated with immunotherapies, such as cytokine release syndrome, and reported no occurrences of these severe side effects in the study group.

Following treatment, patients’ bone marrow was tested for MRD using two advanced tests capable of detecting a single cancer cell among millions of normal cells. Remarkably, all patients who completed the therapy showed no traces of disease.

Looking ahead, Kazandjian is hopeful that linvoseltamab could provide more durable responses than current transplant methods, potentially leading to a “functional cure.” “It’s a bold claim, but we need to aim for the stars to move the field forward; that is what we are trying to do,” he remarked. To further explore this potential, the research team plans to expand enrollment to 50 participants.

For ongoing updates on this research and other initiatives, readers can follow Sylvester Cancer Center on social media and visit their blog, InventUM.