Linvoseltamab Approval Expands Access, Increases Competition in BCMA Bispecifics Space: Sundar Jagannath, MBBS

Following the recent FDA approval of linvoseltamab (Lynozyfic; Regeneron) in patients with heavily pretreated multiple myeloma, as supported by data from the ongoing phase 1/2 LINKER-MM1 trial (NCT03761108), Sundar Jagannath, MBBS, professor of medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and LINKER-MM1 trial investigator, shares which unanswered questions about the treatment he is most excited to see addressed in ongoing and future studies.

Revisit parts 1 and 2 to learn what sets linvoseltamab apart from other multiple myeloma treatments and how it offers greater accessibility than other available therapies.

This transcript was lightly edited; captions were auto-generated.

Transcript

What unanswered questions are you most excited to see explored in ongoing or future studies involving linvoseltamab?

It is moving to an earlier disease. As a matter of fact, there is a study called DETERMINATION-2 coming out of Dana-Farber [Cancer Institute] where a group of patients with high risk who are not MRD [minimal residual disease] negative with quadruple therapy are randomized to get linvoseltamab so that they can go into complete remission, MRD negative.

We really think this drug is very effective and should move earlier and earlier in the course because [with] the most effective therapy given earlier, you can cure the cancer. Just as a patient or a common person, you want to cure the cancer on the first go-around. You don't want to tell them, "Oh, I have plenty of chocolate, so let's try this one. It's an incurable cancer, your cancer comes back, so I can do the next chocolate, but we will keep it in reserve." Or, if I ask you, "Listen, we'll use the best and cure you upfront." I think that you don't want to try to cure the cancer after it comes back. You want to be able to give the best [treatment first].

My feeling is that it's an important milestone. I'm very happy that the FDA approved it and the [European Medicines Agency] approved it in Europe. It will be widely available worldwide because the rest of the world looks up to these 2 agencies for approval of the drug.

Patients can have access to this medicine, and when you have more than one drug approved, there is no monopoly. It allows the market to play off, as you have 3 different [B-cell maturation antigen] bispecifics. That's also good for the patients, good for the community.

All in all, I think it is an important milestone that linvoseltamab got approved. I'm very excited personally, simply because we were a part of the LINKER-MM1 trial, and I had talked about the results at the [American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting] in 2024, so I'm very proud to be part of it.