Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared with rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice.
Relapsed or Refractory Multiple Myeloma in Combination with Bortezomib and Dexamethasone
The safety of BLENREP with bortezomib and dexamethasone (n = 242) compared with daratumumab with bortezomib and dexamethasone (n = 246) was evaluated in DREAMM‑7 in patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma who received at least one prior line of therapy [see Clinical Studies (14)]. Patients received BLENREP 2.5 mg/kg of actual body weight once every 3 weeks in combination with bortezomib and dexamethasone (BVd) for the first 8 cycles, followed by BLENREP as a single agent or daratumumab in combination with bortezomib and dexamethasone (DVd) for the first 8 cycles, followed by daratumumab as a single agent. Among patients who received BLENREP, 69% were exposed for 6 months or longer and 55% were exposed for greater than one year. The safety of BLENREP in combination with bortezomib and dexamethasone in patients who received only one prior line of therapy (n = 125) has not been established.
Serious adverse reactions occurred in 50% of patients who received BVd. Serious adverse reactions in ≥2% of patients included pneumonia (18%), pyrexia (5%), thrombocytopenia (5%), COVID-19 (5%), upper respiratory tract infection (4%), sepsis (4%), second primary malignancy (3%), and anemia (2%). Fatal adverse reactions occurred in 10% of patients who received BVd. Fatal adverse reactions which occurred in >1 patient included pneumonia (4%), sepsis (2%), COVID-19 (1%), respiratory failure (<1%), and intracranial hemorrhage (<1%).
Permanent discontinuation of BLENREP due to an adverse reaction occurred in 17% of patients. Adverse reactions which resulted in permanent discontinuation of BLENREP in ≥3% of patients included ocular toxicity (9%) and pneumonia (4%).
Dosage interruptions of BLENREP due to an adverse reaction occurred in 78% of patients. Adverse reactions which required dosage interruption of BLENREP in ≥3% of patients included ocular toxicity based on ophthalmic exam findings (74%), blurred vision (32%), upper respiratory tract infection (20%), dry eye (14%), photophobia (14%), pneumonia (14%), eye irritation (13%), COVID-19 (12%), foreign body sensation in eyes (12%), eye pain (10%), thrombocytopenia (9%), visual impairment (7%), cataract (5%), diarrhea (4%), and neutropenia (4%).
Dosage reductions of BLENREP due to an adverse reaction occurred in 36% of patients. Adverse reactions which required dosage reductions for BLENREP in ≥3% of patients included ocular toxicity based on ophthalmic exam findings (30%), thrombocytopenia (14%), and blurred vision (10%).
The most common adverse reactions (≥20%) were reduction in BCVA, corneal exam findings, blurred vision, dry eye, photophobia, foreign body sensation in eyes, eye irritation, upper respiratory tract infection, hepatotoxicity, eye pain, diarrhea, fatigue, pneumonia, cataract, and COVID-19. The most common Grade 3 or 4 laboratory abnormalities (≥10%) were decreased platelets, decreased lymphocytes, decreased neutrophils, increased gamma glutamyltransferase, decreased white blood cells, and decreased hemoglobin.
Table 4 summarizes the adverse reactions in DREAMM‑7.
Table 4. Adverse Reactions (≥10%) in Patients with Relapsed or Refractory Multiple Myeloma Who Received BLENREP in DREAMM-7BCVA = best‑corrected visual acuity; BVd = BLENREP + bortezomib and dexamethasone; DVd = daratumumab + bortezomib and dexamethasone. a Adverse reactions, except ophthalmic exam findings, were graded according to Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events v5.0. b Based on ophthalmic exam findings. c Grouped term includes other related terms. d Includes the following fatal adverse reactions: BVd: pneumonia (n = 10), COVID-19 (n = 3), upper respiratory tract infection (n = 1); DVd: pneumonia (n = 7), COVID-19 (n = 5), pyrexia (n = 1). |
Adverse Reactiona | BLENREP + Bortezomib and Dexamethasone N = 242 | Daratumumab + Bortezomib and Dexamethasone N = 246 |
All Grades (%) | Grades 3‑4 (%) | All Grades (%) | Grades 3‑4 (%) |
Eye disorders |
Reduction in BCVAb | 89 | 57 | 44 | 9 |
Corneal exam findingsb | 86 | 72 | 19 | 3 |
Blurred vision | 66 | 22 | 11 | 0.8 |
Dry eyec | 51 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
Photophobia | 47 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
Foreign body sensation in eyesc | 44 | 3 | 4 | 0 |
Eye irritation | 43 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
Eye painc | 33 | 0.8 | 4 | 0.4 |
Cataractc | 24 | 8 | 14 | 3 |
Visual impairment | 11 | 5 | 2 | 0.4 |
Gastrointestinal disorders |
Diarrhea | 32 | 4 | 31 | 4 |
Nausea | 16 | 0.8 | 12 | 0 |
Infections |
Upper respiratory tract infectionc,d | 38 | 2 | 36 | 2 |
Pneumoniac,d | 26 | 16 | 17 | 5 |
COVID-19d | 24 | 5 | 20 | 2 |
Hepatobiliary disorders |
Hepatotoxicityc | 33 | 14 | 16 | 2 |
General disorders and administration site conditions |
Fatiguec | 26 | 6 | 27 | 4 |
Pyrexiac,d | 19 | 0.4 | 11 | 2 |
Clinically relevant adverse reactions in <10% of patients who received BVd included: increased lacrimation, vomiting, diplopia, albuminuria, sepsis, eye pruritus, infusion-related reactions, corneal ulcer (including cases with infection), and pneumonitis.
Table 5 summarizes the laboratory abnormalities in DREAMM-7.
Table 5. Select Laboratory Abnormalities (>10%) That Worsened from Baseline in Patients with Relapsed or Refractory Multiple Myeloma Who Received BLENREP in DREAMM-7| Laboratory Abnormality | BLENREP + Bortezomib and Dexamethasonea | Daratumumab + Bortezomib and Dexamethasonea |
|---|
All Grades (%) | Grades 3‑4 (%) | All Grades (%) | Grades 3‑4 (%) |
|---|
BVd = BLENREP + bortezomib and dexamethasone; DVd = daratumumab + bortezomib and dexamethasone. a The denominator used to calculate the rate varied from 238 to 241 (BVd) and 243 to 246 (DVd) based on the number of patients with a baseline value and at least one post-treatment value. |
Hematology |
Platelets decreased | 100 | 74 | 88 | 48 |
Lymphocytes decreased | 90 | 53 | 92 | 56 |
Leukocytes decreased | 59 | 11 | 67 | 17 |
Neutrophils decreased | 52 | 17 | 53 | 13 |
Hemoglobin decreased | 51 | 10 | 60 | 12 |
Chemistry |
Aspartate aminotransferase increased | 88 | 5 | 40 | 0 |
Gamma glutamyltransferase increased | 73 | 15 | 44 | 3 |
Alanine aminotransferase increased | 71 | 5 | 54 | 1 |
Creatinine increased | 51 | 2 | 53 | <1 |
Creatine phosphokinase increased | 48 | 3 | 31 | 3 |
Patient-reported ocular symptoms were assessed using the Patient-Reported Outcomes Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (PRO-CTCAE) and Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI).
PRO-CTCAE assessments were collected at baseline and then every 3 weeks until treatment discontinuation. Completion rates in both arms were ≥90% at baseline and ≥81% at subsequent timepoints where >50% of patients remained on treatment. OSDI assessments were collected every 3 weeks until the 6th dose and then every 6 weeks thereafter until treatment discontinuation for BVd and every 3 weeks until Cycle 6 and then every 12 weeks thereafter until treatment discontinuation for DVd. Completion rates in both arms were ≥90% at baseline and ≥52% at subsequent timepoints where >50% of patients remained on treatment.
Table 6 summarizes the patient-reported symptom of blurred vision as assessed by PRO-CTCAE.
Table 6. Patient-Reported Symptom of Blurred Vision Assessed by PRO-CTCAE in Patients with Relapsed or Refractory Multiple Myeloma in DREAMM-7| Symptom (Attribute)a | Any Symptom Before Treatmentb | Score 3 or 4 Before Treatmentc | Any Symptom on Treatmentd,e | Score 3 or 4 on Treatmentd,f |
|---|
BVd (%) n = 232 | DVd (%) n = 227 | BVd (%) n = 232 | DVd (%) n = 227 | BVd (%) n = 238 | DVd (%) n = 239 | BVd (%) n = 238 | DVd (%) n = 239 |
|---|
BVd = BLENREP + bortezomib and dexamethasone; DVd = daratumumab + bortezomib and dexamethasone; PRO-CTCAE = patient-reported outcomes common terminology criteria for adverse events. a Symptom attribute scoring defined as severity with a score of 0 = ‘none’; 1 = ‘mild’; 2 = ‘moderate’; 3 = ‘severe’; 4 = ‘very severe’. b Percentage of patients whose symptom score before treatment was 1 to 4. c Percentage of patients whose symptom score before treatment was 3 or 4. d Number of patients who provided at least one on-treatment score. e Percentage of patients whose maximum post-baseline score was 1 to 4 on treatment. f Percentage of patients whose maximum post-baseline score was 3 or 4 on treatment. |
Blurred vision (severity) | 28 | 24 | <1 | 2 | 93 | 74 | 55 | 15 |
Driving at night was assessed using the OSDI. At baseline, the proportion of patients who reported limitations with driving at night “all of the time” or “most of the time” during the last week was 9% in the BVd arm and 4% in the DVd arm. The proportion of patients who reported limitations with driving at night “all of the time” or “most of the time” during the last week was highest in the BVd arm at 47% at Week 13 and in the DVd arm at 12% at Week 76.