Great questions! Sarclisa (isatuximab) and Darzalex (daratumumab) are both monoclonal antibodies that target the CD38 protein on myeloma cells, but they are different drugs made by different manufacturers. Think of them as cousins — same target, different approach.
Both work by
- Attaching to CD38 on myeloma cells
- Show Full Answer
Great questions! Sarclisa (isatuximab) and Darzalex (daratumumab) are both monoclonal antibodies that target the CD38 protein on myeloma cells, but they are different drugs made by different manufacturers. Think of them as cousins — same target, different approach.
Both work by:
- Attaching to CD38 on myeloma cells
- Recruiting immune cells (like natural killer cells) to destroy the myeloma cells
However, they are distinct molecules with different structures and slightly different ways they bind to CD38. As for whether Sarclisa can be used after daratumumab — this is an important question to raise directly with your oncologist or myeloma specialist. While both target CD38, some research has explored using one after the other, but the effectiveness can vary depending on why the previous CD38 therapy stopped working.
Your doctor will consider factors like:
- How well daratumumab worked previously
- Why treatment was changed
- Your current overall health and myeloma status
- What other drugs might be combined with Sarclisa
This is definitely a conversation worth having with your care team, as treatment sequencing in myeloma is very personalized.
July 28