Dr. Kumar on Ixazomib Combo for Multiple Myeloma Treatment

Shaji Kumar, MD, professor of medicine at the Mayo Clinic, discusses the use of the proteasome inhibitor ixazomib in combination with lenalidomide (Revlimid) and dexamethasone for the treatment of newly diagnosed multiple myeloma.

Kumar says over 90% of patients in a phase II clinical trial had a positive response to the combination treatment, and over 58% had a partial response. Ixazomib can also be continued as a maintenance treatment to improve the response overtime. Ixazomib is also well tolerated in this patient population, Kumar says, but larger trials need to be conducted to confirm these results.