Insights From the AURIGA Trial in Multiple Myeloma

Ashraf Z. Badros, MB, ChB, professor of medicine, director of the Multiple Myeloma Service, and vice chair of the Clinical Research Committee for the Program in Oncology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore, discusses the key takeaways from the phase 3 AURIGA trial (NCT03901963). 

Findings from the study were presented at the 2024 International Myeloma Society Annual Meeting.

Transcription:

0:09 | The addition of daratumumab [Darzalex] to lenalidomide achieved a high MRD-negative conversion rate. The catch for the community is, do we check MRD negative conversion rate, MRD, and unfortunately, most patients do not have access to MRD testing upfront and during their treatment journey. So that will be a message that probably can be addressed.

0:39 | So, the addition of daratumumab to lenalidomide resulted in a higher MRD negative rate, deepened the responses, so we see a higher complete response [CR] rate compared with lenalidomide [Revlimid] alone, and improved progression-free survival. We are looking at 30-month PFS rates that are higher for daratumumab plus lenalidomide versus lenalidomide alone, so it is all a beneficial treatment option for the patients from our trial that did not receive daratumumab upfront.

1:11 | If you look at other trials, like the PERSEUS [NCT03710603] and the GRIFFIN [NCT02874742], it’s clear that adding daratumumab to lenalidomide in this particular setting, even after receiving it in induction, further deepens the responses and improves the MRD negativity rate. So, I think the fact that we used daratumumab upfront does not mean you cannot use it during maintenance or after transplant, because there is further reduction in the tumor load and deeper responses with MRD negativity and CR rate. Overall, if you take the data collectively, there is rationale to inform practicing physicians that adding daratumumab might be beneficial for newly diagnosed patients after transplant, or it is beneficial, not might, it is beneficial.