A Message from the IMF Chairman & Chief Scientific Officer

Dear Reader,

Founded in 1990, the IMF is the first and largest organization focusing specifically on myeloma. Our reach extends to more than 525,000 members in 140 countries. The IMF works to improve the quality of life of myeloma patients while working toward prevention and a cure through our four founding principles: Research, Education, Support, and Advocacy.

This edition of Myeloma Today includes a report about the top myeloma research (see page 5) presented in December 2022 at the 64th Annual Meeting & Exposition of the American Society of Hematology (ASH). I would like to briefly touch on the work of the IMF in the area of myeloma research.

The IMF continues to have an impact in a complex myeloma landscape by addressing unmet needs. One of the many ways we do this is through the numerous guidelines produced by the IMF’s International Myeloma Working Group (IMWG). How is it possible to assess if one treatment is better than another unless you have standardized an accepted response? The IMWG response criteria was first published more than a decade ago, and it has since been updated to include the minimal residual disease (MRD) testing, which is now recognized as essential to assessing outcomes.

The IMWG has also published the diagnostic criteria for myeloma. All IMWG criteria are accepted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and provide a standardized template to work with. If everyone is using different criteria, it’s very hard to compare each other’s data. The criteria are a foundation for collaboration in myeloma research. The IMF is actively collaborating on myeloma research throughout the world, such as with global clinical trials in the United States, Europe, and Asia.

An initial idea born in the spring of 2012 led to a scientific brainstorming meeting linked to the IMWG Summit held in June of that year, which focused on the question: “How Can We CURE Myeloma?” The answer: “Establish a new research project focused on both finding a cure and preventing myeloma in the first place.” The key concept of the Black Swan Research Initiative® (BSRI®) is to standardize precise and reproducible methods for assessment of the lowest levels of myeloma after best treatment.

The BSRI’s collaborative CURE clinical trials are bearing fruit. The CESAR clinical trial in Spain has been completed. The ASCENT clinical trial in the U.S. has completed enrollment. Understanding the onset of myeloma and early intervention are key to achieve best results and, eventually, a CURE.

The Iceland Screens Treats or Prevents Multiple Myeloma (iStopMM) screening study has now examined blood samples from more than 85,000 adults over the age of 40 in Iceland for the earliest signs of myeloma. Please see page 5 of this edition of Myeloma Today for the iStopMM abstracts presented recently at ASH 2022. Screening is safe, cost effective, and can become a new standard of care to decisively improve patient outcomes.

The BSRI is providing the scientific roadmap for the next steps, studying molecular and immune testing, best frontline therapy, MRD-positivity and biochemical relapse, and immunotherapy combinations. And the IMF is pursuing multiple research projects at once. Our International Independent Team for Endpoint Approval of Minimal Residual Disease in Myeloma (i2TEAMM) has been active since 2016 and holds the investigational new drug application (IND) with the FDA. The European Medicines Agency (EMA) is also proceeding with follow-up.

Every year since 1994, the IMF has funded new myeloma research through our Brian D. Novis Research Grant program, named in honor of the IMF’s co-founder. The IMF has supported more than 150 of the most promising projects by talented investigators from leading institutions around the world.

The quest for a cure demands constant innovation. The IMF has been pioneering the way for discovery since 1990. Throughout the years, we have been a leading voice in the fight against myeloma. Working creatively and collaboratively with the world’s foremost experts, we are improving outcomes for patients. Achieving a cure for myeloma is closer than ever.

Dr. Brian G.M.