Bispecific Therapy Myeloma interferes with the normal function of the body’s immune system. Immunotherapy is treatment that engages the patient’s own immune system to attack their myeloma. Monoclonal antibodies attach to myeloma cells and trigger the immune system to destroy those myeloma cells. CAR T-cell therapy engineers the patient’s own T cells and multiplies them in a laboratory before infusing them back into the patient to attack their myeloma. Bispecific antibody therapies or “bispecifics” are a combination of these approaches in one drug.
What are bispecifics? They are called bispecifics because they have more than one arm to attach to cells. One arm, like historical monoclonal antibodies, attaches to a myeloma cell, while another arm directly attaches to a local immune cell (usually a T cell). Bispecifics are a dual threat to myeloma by attaching to both a myeloma cell and an immune cell.
How are bispecifics administered? Bispecifics are given either intravenously (IV) or subcutaneously (under the skin). They are given on different schedules, from as frequently as weekly to as infrequently as monthly. Bispecifics are given continuously, unlike CAR T-cell therapy that is given as a one-time infusion.
What are the advantages of bispecifics? Bispecifics are an off-the-shelf therapy that doesn’t require collecting cells from the patient. Bispecifics can be given in the community setting instead of a specialized center, but bispecifics are given in the hospital for at least the first dose due to the risk of side effects like cytokine release syndrome (CRS). Bispecifics may have less CRS than CAR T-cell therapy and may be more available to patients who are not eligible for or do not have access to CAR T-cell therapy
Visit myeloma.org to learn more about bispecifics as well as other myeloma therapies. As always, the IMF urges you to discuss all medical issues with your doctor, and to contact the IMF with your myeloma questions and concerns.
Are there different types of bispecifics?
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International Myeloma Foundation 4400 Coldwater Canyon Avenue, Suite 300 Studio City, California 91604 USA 818.487.7455 800.452.CURE myeloma.org
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There are several types of bispecifics based on the different targets on the myeloma cell (e.g., CD38, BCMA, GPRC5D, FcRH5) and the different immune cells that are engaged (e.g., T cells, NK cells).