Elotuzumab in combination with pomalidomide and dexamethasone for the treatment of multiple myeloma.

Introduction

Despite major advances in the therapeutic management of multiple myeloma (MM), it remains an incurable disease. Several combinations of monoclonal antibodies with novel agents are being investigated with promising results in order to prolong progression-free and overall survival.Areas covered: This paper aims to critically present available data from clinical trials investigating the combination of elotuzumab with pomalidomide and dexamethasone in refractory/relapsed MM patients and determine its current role in clinical practice.Expert opinion: Pomalidomide-based combinations with monoclonal antibodies have been shown to be effective in patients with MM who are refractory to or have relapsed following treatment with lenalidomide and/or a proteasome inhibitor (PI). These regimens seem to be more effective than the standard combination of pomalidomide with dexamethasone alone. Taking into consideration that the vast majority of MM patients will receive upfront treatment including a PI and lenalidomide in the near future, pomalidomide-based triplets, such as elotuzumab-pomalidomide-dexamethasone, will become the standard of care in the second line of therapy.