Talquetamab for Myeloma

Overview
Talquetamab is a prescription drug that received a breakthrough therapy designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma in adults who have already tried at least four lines of therapy. These previous therapies must include a proteasome inhibitor, an immunomodulatory agent, and an anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody. The FDA grants a breakthrough therapy designation to speed the approval of a drug that treats a serious condition if early clinical findings suggest it may be better than available therapies.

Talquetamab is a bispecific T-cell engager. The drug consists of a genetically engineered protein, or antibody, that targets the GPRC5D protein on B cells — including myeloma cells — and the CD3 protein on T cells. Talquetamab is believed to work by prompting T cells to kill myeloma cells.

How do I take it?
In clinical studies, talquetamab has been administered as an intravenous (IV) infusion weekly or every other week, or as a subcutaneous (under the skin) injection once a week, every other week, or monthly.

Side effects
In clinical studies, common side effects of talquetamab included cytokine release syndrome (a potentially fatal inflammatory reaction that causes severe neurological symptoms such as hallucinations and tremors), skin problems, and changes to the sense of taste.

For more details about this treatment, visit:

Janssen Announces U.S. FDA Breakthrough Therapy Designation Granted for Talquetamab for the Treatment of Relapsed or Refractory Multiple Myeloma — Johnson & Johnson

Talquetamab, a T-Cell-Redirecting GPRC5D Bispecific Antibody for Multiple Myeloma — The New England Journal of Medicine