‘Caregivers Need Care Too’

In this week’s blog, IMF Chief Scientific Officer Dr. Brian G.M. Durie talks about the vital role of primary care partners and why their health and well-being truly matter. He emphasizes that going through a myeloma journey is a marathon, not a sprint and that a myeloma diagnosis can bring about a paradigm shift in one’s daily life. To prioritize the short- and long-term needs of their patients, primary care partners often neglect self-care. However, a primary care partner’s to-do list may expand over time—this is where a team strategy approach becomes imperative and having a reliable support care team is essential. Systematic and efficient teamwork between a primary care partner and a strong support care team yields positive outcomes and helps achieve long-term survival and good quality of life. Dr. Durie reminds patients and primary care partners that they are never alone, and that the IMF is always ready to help.

Register Now for the March 2nd Regional Community Workshop in San Diego

Register now for this in-person Regional Community Workshop at the Westin San Diego Bayview (400 W Broadway) in San Diego. The event’s speakers include IMF Vice President of Support Groups Robin Tuohy, Dr. Ah-Reum (Autumn) Jeong (University of California at San Diego — La Jolla, CA), Dr. Rahul Banerjee (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center — Seattle, WA), and IMF Nurse Leadership Board Member Sandra Rome, RN, MN, AOCN, CNS. These speakers will cover the topics of Myeloma 101, frontline therapy, treatment options for relapsed disease, and managing the side effects and complications of myeloma and its treatments.

Register Now for the April 2024 IMF Patient & Family Seminar in San Francisco

The International Myeloma Foundation (IMF) is excited to announce that the 2024 San Francisco Patient and Family Seminar will take place on April 12-13, 2024, in Foster City, CA. The seminar is FREE, but in-person seating is LIMITED.

Keynote speaker for this seminar is Thomas G. Martin, MD (UCSF, Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer—San Francisco, CA). He will present on the topic of “What is the Future of Myeloma?”

Other seminar presenters include IMF Chief Medical Officer Joseph Mikhael, MD (TGen, City of Hope — Scottsdale, AZ); Ajai Chari, MD (Mount Sinai — New York, New York); Amrita Krishnan, MD, FACP (City of Hope — Orange County, CA); Caitlin Costello, MD (University of California — San Diego); IMF InfoLine Advisor Teresa Miceli, RN, BSN, OCN; Deborah Doss, RN, OCN (Dana-Farber Cancer Institute — Boston); Wendy Thomas RN, MSN, CHPN; and Erin Bair, Esq., Staff Attorney, Triage Cancer. Topics will include a resource review of myeloma.org, Myeloma 101, understanding your labs, shared decision making, financial considerations in myeloma, clinical trials, symptom management, and advanced care planning. 

FDA Approves Tecvayli (teclistamab-cqyv) for the Treatment of Relapsed or Refractory Multiple Myeloma Patients

According to a February 20, 2023 press release from Johnson & Johnson, the U.S. FDA has "approved the supplemental Biologics License Application (sBLA) for TECVAYLI® (teclistamab-cqyv) for a reduced dosing frequency of 1.5 mg/kg every two weeks (Q2W) in patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) who have achieved and maintained a complete response (CR) or better for a minimum of six months. There is a continued unmet need for patients with multiple myeloma and this approval allows increased flexibility in dosing schedule for appropriate patients with a weight-based regimen."

"Tecvayli, which is administered subcutaneously, was the first bispecific antibody targeting B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA) on multiple myeloma cells and CD3 on T-cells to activate an immune response." Read the full press release now.

FDA Grants Priority Review of Linvoseltamab for Patients with Relapsed or Refractory Myeloma

According to a press release from Regeneron, the U.S. FDA "has accepted for Priority Review the Biologics License Application (BLA) for linvoseltamab to treat adult patients with relapsed/refractory (R/R) multiple myeloma (MM) that has progressed after at least three prior therapies. The target action date for the FDA decision is August 22, 2024. Linvoseltamab is an investigational bispecific antibody designed to bridge B-cell maturation antigen on multiple myeloma cells with CD3-expressing T cells to facilitate T-cell activation and cancer-cell killing." 

"The BLA is supported by data from a Phase 1/2 pivotal trial (LINKER-MM1) investigating linvoseltamab in RRMM, which were last shared in December 2023." Read the full press release now.

Download the New Understanding Myeloma Vocabulary Booklet

Myeloma is a complicated disease, but the language that describes it doesn’t have to be hard to understand. To play an active role in your own medical care, it is helpful to learn the myeloma-related terms that may be used in your discussions with your doctor, who is best able to answer questions about your specific healthcare management plan. Download the new Understanding Myeloma Vocabulary to assist you with your conversations with your healthcare team.

Register Now for the March for Myeloma 5K Run/Walk

This isn't just a run; it's a force for change. During March, we're creating a global wave of awareness for myeloma. This Myeloma ACTION Month, march alongside others in the myeloma community and help us make waves of awareness that touch every corner of the globe. Join us in-person in Boca Raton, FL, or race virtually from wherever you are on Friday, March 15, 2024, at 7:00 a.m EST as we make this journey a pivotal part of Myeloma Action Month 2024.

Co-pay Assistance Programs: Now Accepting Applications

HealthWell Foundation has opened a fund to help with Medicare co-pays/premiums. The maximum award level is $12,000, covering various treatments. Check eligibility and apply now.

Visit the IMF Financial Assistance page to view a list of links to resources that may help you find additional financial support.

Around the Web: Myeloma News

To keep you abreast of the most recent myeloma research findings, “The Myeloma Minute” features links to top myeloma content around the web. IMF Chief Medical Officer Dr. Joseph Mikhael provides an overview of the 65th American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting & Exposition. In this article in Blood Cancer Journal, researchers write about “Efficacy and immune modulation associated with the addition of IMiDs to Daratumumab backbone in multiple myeloma patients refractory to both drug classes: resetting synergistic activity.” As always, we invite you to visit the IMF Newsroom for the most recent myeloma news.  

#ASKDRDURIE | Dr. Durie's Weekly Web Video Series

Is the face of myeloma changing?