An innovative clinical trial aiming to improve the treatment of myeloma – currently an incurable blood cancer – has opened at UCLH.
The ProMMise trial funded by Myeloma UK is one of the first of its kind to be launched in the UK. Its platform design allows researchers to test multiple treatments at the same time in one trial. The trial will start with three arms testing three different treatments, with the potential to add additional arms later in the trial.
One drug to be included in the trial is belantamub mafodotin, a new type of anti-myeloma drug called an antibody-drug conjugate. It is a chemotherapy drug connected to a synthetic antibody. The antibody allows the drug to find and attach to a protein on the surface of myeloma cells called BCMA (B cell maturation antigen). After it connects to BCMA the chemotherapy drug separates from the antibody and kills the myeloma cell.
The trial will test the safety and effectiveness of belantamab mafodotin alone and in different combinations in relapsed myeloma patients who have had one to three previous rounds of treatment.
ProMMise is the first clinical trial to be developed through the Concept and Access Research Programme (CARP), an initiative funded by Myeloma UK which aims to support the development of innovative myeloma clinical trials in the UK.
Patients were involved in the development of the trial at an early stage.
At UCLH, the multi-centre trial is support by the NIHR UCLH Clinical Research Facility.
Dr Rakesh Popat, Chief Investigator for ProMMise and Consultant Haematologist at UCLH, said: “We hope this innovative, patient-focused trial will ultimately help expand the range of treatments which can be given to patients, so that outcomes for patients can be improved.”
Shelagh McKinlay, Acting Director of Research and Patient Advocacy at Myeloma UK said: “This trial will allow patients to access belantamab from the first relapse and provide evidence to support its use through the NHS.”
Watch a video of Dr Popat discussing the trial.
