Learn about DARZALEX FASPRO® + VRd, the latest FDA-approved quad treatment combination for people with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma who are not eligible to receive a stem cell transplant

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DARZALEX FASPRO ® is now FDA approved as the first therapy for use alone to treat adults with high-risk smoldering multiple myeloma.

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About Multiple MyelomaTreatment Options

How multiple myeloma is treated

Your doctor will choose your treatment based on factors such as your overall health, the stage of your multiple myeloma, and how many treatments you have already received. Some treatments help slow or stop cancer cell growth, help your immune system fight it, or destroy the cancer cells. Treatments are often combined, and some people may also get a stem cell transplant using their own cells.

It is important to discuss all the potential benefits and risks associated with the treatment options you are considering with your healthcare team.

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Can multiple myeloma be cured?

Right now, there is no cure. But treatments have gotten better over the years and people with multiple myeloma are living longer than before. Your doctor will look at a range of factors, including your kidney function, age, and overall health, to help determine the right treatment plan.

To learn more about multiple myeloma and treatment options, visit the websites of these multiple myeloma education and support groups.

Commonly used treatment methods for multiple myeloma

Monoclonal antibodies kill cancer cells directly and help the immune system attack them

Immunomodulatory agents can be used to enhance or suppress the immune system

Proteasome inhibitors interfere with actions inside cancer cells that help them grow and spread

Steroids help decrease inflammation and swelling

Radiation uses high-energy particles or rays to damage cancer cells and prevent them from growing

Chemotherapy either kills cancer cells or stops them from spreading

Conditioning and autologous stem cell transplants* destroy cells in the blood, including cancerous cells, replacing them with healthy stem cells (cells that have not yet finished developing)

Bone support medication such as bisphosphonates help improve bone strength and prevent loss of bone mass

Plasmapheresis is a transfusion technique that removes abnormal proteins from the blood

Surgery may be used to remove individual bone tumors. Surgery may also be needed to prevent or treat fractures

*Not everyone is eligible for a stem cell transplant.

Combining treatments

Treatments are often combined because they fight the cancer and/or symptoms in different ways. It’s common to be on a combination of 2 or more drugs.

  • Four drugs at the same time is called a quadruplet (quad) regimen.
  • Taking 3 medicines at the same time is called a triplet regimen.
  • Two drugs at the same time is called a doublet regimen.

Your doctor will decide what is the right regimen for you based on your Revised International Staging System (R-ISS) stage as well as the effectiveness and safety of each medicine.

You can find out more about a potential treatment option
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Some examples of how these medicines can be combined for your individual treatment regimen include:

Quad Regimen

Quad Regimen (Monoclonal antibody, Proteasome inhibitor, Corticosteroid, and Immunomodulatory agent)

Triplet Regimen

Triplet Regimen version 1 (Monoclonal antibody, Proteasome inhibitor, and Corticosteroid)Triplet Regimen version 2 (Monoclonal antibody, Corticosteroid, and Immunomodulatory agent)

Doublet Regimen

Doublet
Regimen

Doublet Regimen (Proteasome inhibitor and Corticosteroid)Doublet Regimen (Immunomodulatory agent and Corticosteroid)
Monoclonal antibody

Monoclonal antibody

Proteasome inhibitor

Proteasome inhibitor

Corticosteroid

Corticosteroid

Immunomodulatory agent

Immunomodulatory agent

You can find out more about a potential treatment option
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Talking with your healthcare team

When it’s time to choose a treatment for multiple myeloma, you can play an active role in the treatment decision. Your doctor and healthcare team are here to answer questions, make recommendations, and provide guidance when choosing a treatment plan. Shared decision-making between oncologists and patients is crucial when it comes to selecting a treatment plan.

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The key to shared decision-making is having open discussions with your healthcare team. Here’s how you can start:

  • Express your desire to be involved in treatment decisions
  • Ask questions to understand your options
  • Let the doctor know your goals, values, and preferences
  • Ask for time if you need it (and if it’s appropriate)
  • Arrive at a treatment decision together

It is important to discuss all the potential benefits and risks associated with the treatment options you are considering. Here is a list of questions you may want to ask your healthcare team:

  • What different treatment options are available?
  • Will I need to be on multiple treatments at one time?
  • What do you recommend and why?
  • How quickly do we need to make a decision?
  • What are the potential side effects of the treatments you recommend?
Craft a personalized set of questions to ask your doctor with our Doctor Conversation Starter
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