David R. Oveisi, MD Expanded indications for the CAR T-cell therapies idecabtagene vicleucel (Abecma; ide-cel) andciltacabtagene autoleucel (Carvykti; cilta-cel) in earlier treatment settings have provided additional options for patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma, according to David R. Oveisi, MD, who emphasized the need for increased awareness about the availability of these therapies in early-relapse settings.
On April 5, 2024, the FDA approved ide-cel for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma after 2 or more prior lines of therapy, including an immunomodulatory agent (IMiD), a proteasome inhibitor (PI), and an anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody. 1 On the same day, the regulatory agency approved cilta-cel for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma who have received at least 1 prior line of therapy, including a PI and an IMiD, and who are refractory to lenalidomide (Revlimid). 2 With both CAR T-cell therapies approved in earlier indications, Oveisi noted that counseling eligible patients about these options is a crucial step toward selecting a treatment.
“Think about referral [to CAR T-cell therapy] for these patients early in the course of relapse. [Refer patients] if you think that they're robust and might benefit from CAR T-cell therapy,” Oveisi detailed in an interview with OncLive ®. In the interview, Oveisi discussed the implications of the expanded indications for ide-cel and .
