Novel Drugs for Multiple Myeloma

Multiple Myeloma (MM) is a complex disease considered incurable in the majority of patients; however, several new treatments have been developed over the last decade, including third generation immunomodulatory drugs (pomalidomide), second generation proteasome inhibitors (carfilzomib and ixazomib), a histone deacetylase inhibitor (panobinostat) and monoclonal antibodies (elotuzumab and daratumumab). In addition, some new agents with unique mechanisms of action are in the process of development. Of these, isatuximab, oprozomib, filanesib (ARRY-520), dinaciclib, venetoclax, selinexor, melflufen and LGH-447 are the most promising, demonstrating preclinical single-agent activity against MM. In this chapter, we present the current status of newer and investigational anti-myeloma agents, and outline future directions for clinical use. We also summarize recent developments in the treatment of MM patients, obtained through a thorough literature review of all WO, EP and US patents filed in 2010-2018, using PubMed and http://ep.espacenet.com/ as sources. The development of novel drugs will hopefully lead to therapies with more potent effects.

Keywords: Afuresertib, bortezomib, citarinostat, daratumumab, elotuzumab, filanesib, ixazomib, isatuximab, lenalidomide, melflufen, nivolumab, oprozomib, panobinostat, pembrolizumab, pomalidomide, ricolinostat, selinexor, trametinib, venetoclax, vorinostat.