Dr. Richardson Discusses the Results of the OPTIMISMM Trial in Myeloma

Paul Richardson, MD, clinical program leader, director of Clinical Research, Jerome Lipper Multiple Myeloma Center, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, RJ Corman Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, discusses the results of the OPTIMISMM trial in patients with multiple myeloma.

The phase III OPTIMISMM trial compared pomalidomide (Pomalyst), bortezomib (Velcade), and low-dose dexamethasone (PVd) with bortezomib and low-dose dexamethasone in patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma, previously treated with lenalidomide (Revlimid). Richardson says that is an interesting and important area, as lenalidomide is frequently used as upfront therapy, as well as in the maintenance setting. OPTIMISMM is the first of its kind, as it looks exclusively at lenalidomide-exposed patients, Richardson explains.

Results showed that the addition of pomalidomide to bortezomib and low-dose dexamethasone reduced the risk of disease progression or death by 39%. Additionally, the median progression-free survival at 16 months was 11.20 months with PVd compared with 7.10 months with bortezomib and low-dose dexamethasone alone (HR, 0.61; 95% CI, 0.49-0.77; P <.0001).