Multiple myeloma is a blood cancer affecting plasma cells in the bone marrow. It's diagnosed in about 35,000 Americans each year, mostly over age 65. Treatment has changed dramatically in the past decade — many people now live years longer than was possible before, using combinations of targeted drugs, immunotherapy, and stem cell transplant.
What's actually going on in research
Trials are testing CAR-T cell therapy earlier in treatment, bispecific antibodies that redirect immune cells to kill myeloma, and combinations that might eliminate the need for chemotherapy. Researchers are also studying minimal residual disease testing to guide treatment decisions, and new drugs for high-risk myeloma that resists standard therapy.
CAR-T cell therapy
Two CAR-T therapies — idecabtagene vicleucel and ciltacabtagene autoleucel — were FDA-approved in 2021 and 2022 for relapsed myeloma. Trials are now testing whether using them earlier, after one or two prior treatments, produces better long-term outcomes.
Bispecific antibodies
These drugs connect a patient's T cells directly to myeloma cells, forcing the immune system to attack the cancer. Teclistamab became the first FDA-approved bispecific for myeloma in 2022, and several others are in late-stage trials.
Minimal residual disease
Ultra-sensitive tests can now detect one myeloma cell among a million normal cells. Trials are studying whether people who reach this level of response can safely stop treatment or skip stem cell transplant.
What to know before you search
Eligibility typically depends on how many prior treatments you've had, specific genetic features of your myeloma, kidney function, and blood counts.
What types of trials are currently open
- Newly diagnosed trials — Testing new drug combinations or treatment sequences for people just diagnosed with myeloma. Many compare adding a new drug to standard induction therapy.
- Relapsed myeloma trials — Testing treatments for myeloma that has returned after initial therapy. Often involve newer drug classes like bispecific antibodies or CAR-T cells.
- Maintenance trials — Studying whether continuing certain drugs after initial treatment keeps myeloma in remission longer.
- High-risk myeloma trials — Testing more intensive approaches for people whose myeloma has genetic features that predict poorer response to standard treatment.
- Supportive care trials — Testing treatments for bone pain, fractures, kidney problems, infections, and other complications of myeloma or its treatment.
Recently added Multiple Myeloma trials
Take a new antibody combined with two existing drugs for multiple myeloma
The purpose of this study is to assess the efficacy and safety of cevostamab in combination with pomalidomide and dexamethasone (CevosPd) in patients with multiple myeloma (MM) who have received one to four prior lines of therapy and have been exposed to an anti-cluster of differentiation 38 (CD38) antibody, lenalidomide, a proteasome inhibitor (PI) and a B cell maturation antigen (BCMA)-targeting chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy.
Receive an immune cell infusion designed to fight multiple myeloma
A Phase 1, first in human, study to evaluate the safety and the effects of in vivo BCMA-CAR T cell therapy (VV169) in patients with Multiple Myeloma that has been previously treated and has come back, or does not respond to standard treatments. Eligible patients will receive VV169, a T-cell targeted lentiviral vector, via infusion. Patients will be monitored for safety and tolerability for up to 2 years, until progressive disease or start of next treatment, whichever is earlier.
Find Multiple Myeloma trials matched specifically to you
Answer 3 quick questions and we'll show you trials that fit your situation.