2025emaConditional marketing authorisation — Linvoseltamab· Monotherapy for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma who have received at least 3 prior therapies, including a proteasome inhibitor, an immunomodulatory agent, and an anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody, and have demonstrated disease progression on the last therapy. source ↗

2023emaConditional marketing authorisation — Elranatamab· Elrexfio is indicated as monotherapy for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma, who have received at least three prior therapies, including an immunomodulatory agent, a proteasome inhibitor, and an anti-CD38 antibody and have demonstrated disease progression on the last therapy. source ↗

2023emaConditional marketing authorisation — Talquetamab· Talvey is indicated as monotherapy for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma, who have received at least 3 prior therapies, including an immunomodulatory agent, a proteasome inhibitor, and an anti CD38 antibody and have demonstrated disease progression on the last therapy. source ↗

2022emaConditional marketing authorisation — Teclistamab· TECVAYLI is indicated as monotherapy for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma, who have received at least three prior therapies, including an immunomodulatory agent, a proteasome inhibitor, and an anti-CD38 antibody and have demonstrated disease progression on the last therapy. source ↗

Product approvals and authorisations

2025emaOriginal application approval — Belantamab mafodotin· Blenrep is indicated in adults for the treatment of relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma: in combination with bortezomib and dexamethasone in patients who have received at least one prior therapy; and in combination with pomalidomide and dexamethasone in patients who have received at least one prior therapy including lenalidomide. source ↗

2024emaGeneric approval — Pomalidomide· Pomalidomide Teva in combination with bortezomib and dexamethasone is indicated in the treatment of adult patients with multiple myeloma who have received at least one prior treatment regimen including lenalidomide. Pomalidomide Teva in combination with dexamethasone is indicated in the treatment of adult patients with relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma who have received at least two prior treatment regimens, including both lenalidomide and bortezomib, and have demonstrated disease progression on the last therapy.  source ↗

2024emaGeneric approval — Pomalidomide· Pomalidomide Accord in combination with bortezomib and dexamethasone is indicated in the treatment of adult patients with multiple myeloma who have received at least one prior treatment regimen including lenalidomide. Pomalidomide Accord in combination with dexamethasone is indicated in the treatment of adult patients with relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma who have received at least two prior treatment regimens, including both lenalidomide and bortezomib, and have demonstrated disease progression on the last therapy.  source ↗

2024emaGeneric approval — Pomalidomide· Treatment of adults with multiple myeloma who have received at least one prior treatment regimen including lenalidomide. Pomalidomide Zentiva in combination with dexamethasone is indicated in the treatment of adult patients with relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma who have received at least two prior treatment regimens, including both lenalidomide and bortezomib, and have demonstrated disease progression on the last therapy. source ↗

2024emaGeneric approval — Pomalidomide· Pomalidomide Krka in combination with bortezomib and dexamethasone is indicated in the treatment of adult patients with multiple myeloma who have received at least one prior treatment regimen including lenalidomide. Pomalidomide Krka in combination with dexamethasone is indicated in the treatment of adult patients with relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma who have received at least two prior treatment regimens, including both lenalidomide and bortezomib, and have demonstrated disease progression on the last therapy.  source ↗

2024emaGeneric approval — Pomalidomide· Pomalidomide Viatris in combination with bortezomib and dexamethasone is indicated in the treatment of adult patients with multiple myeloma who have received at least one prior treatment regimen including lenalidomide.Pomalidomide Viatris in combination with dexamethasone is indicated in the treatment of adult patients with relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma who have received at least two prior treatment regimens, including both lenalidomide and bortezomib, and have demonstrated disease progression on the last therapy. source ↗

2022emaGeneric approval — Plerixafor· Adult patients Plerixafor Accord is indicated in combination with granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) to enhance mobilisation of haematopoietic stem cells to the peripheral blood for collection and subsequent autologous transplantation in adult patients with lymphoma or multiple myeloma whose cells mobilise poorly (see section 4.2). Paediatric patients (1 to less than 18 years) Plerixafor Accord is indicated in combination with G-CSF to enhance mobilisation of haematopoietic stem cells to the peripheral blood for collection and subsequent autologous transplantation in children with lymphoma or solid malignant tumours, either:- pre-emptively, when circulating stem cell count on the predicted day of collection after adequate mobilization with G-CSF (with or without chemotherapy) is expected to be insufficient with regards to desired hematopoietic stem cells yield, or- who previously failed to collect sufficient haematopoietic stem cells (see section 4.2). source ↗

2022emaOriginal application approval — Thalidomide· Thalidomide Lipomed in combination with melphalan and prednisone is indicated as first line treatment of patients with untreated multiple myeloma, aged ? 65 years or ineligible for high dose chemotherapy. Thalidomide Lipomed is prescribed and dispensed in accordance with the Thalidomide Lipomed Pregnancy Prevention Programme (see section 4.4). source ↗

Other regulatory activity

2025emaProduct authorisation ended — Doxorubicin· Celdoxome pegylated liposomal is indicated in adults: as monotherapy for patients with metastatic breast cancer, where there is an increased cardiac risk. or treatment of advanced ovarian cancer in women who have failed a first-line platinum-based chemotherapy regimen. in combination with bortezomib for the treatment of progressive multiple myeloma in patients who have received at least one prior therapy and who have already undergone or are unsuitable for bone marrow transplant. for treatment of AIDS-related Kaposi’s sarcoma (KS) in patients with low CD4 counts (< 200 CD4 lymphocytes/mm3) and extensive mucocutaneous or visceral disease. Celdoxome pegylated liposomal may be used as first-line systemic chemotherapy, or as second line chemotherapy in AIDS-KS patients with disease that has progressed with, or in patients intolerant to, prior combination systemic chemotherapy comprising at least two of the following agents: a vinca alkaloid, bleomycin and standard doxorubicin (or other anthracycline). source ↗

2025emaProduct authorisation ended — Bortezomib· Bortezomib Hospira as monotherapy or in combination with pegylated liposomal doxorubicin or dexamethasone is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with progressive multiple myeloma who have received at least 1 prior therapy and who have already undergone or are unsuitable for haematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Bortezomib Hospira in combination with melphalan and prednisone is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with previously untreated multiple myeloma who are not eligible for high-dose chemotherapy with haematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Bortezomib Hospira in combination with dexamethasone, or with dexamethasone and thalidomide, is indicated for the induction treatment of adult patients with previously untreated multiple myeloma who are eligible for high-dose chemotherapy with haematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Bortezomib Hospira in combination with rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin and prednisone is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with previously untreated mantle cell lymphoma who are unsuitable for haematopoietic stem cell transplantation. source ↗

2024emaProduct authorisation ended — Belantamab mafodotin· Blenrep is indicated as monotherapy for the treatment of multiple myeloma in adult patients, who have received at least four prior therapies and whose disease is refractory to at least one proteasome inhibitor, one immunomodulatory agent, and an anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody, and who have demonstrated disease progression on the last therapy. source ↗

European Medicines Agency (CC BY 4.0). Events are matched to this condition by drug indication text — approvals/updates for drugs indicated for it, not disease-specific acts.

Research activity

22 papers

Key research shaping understanding of this disease, combining the latest publications with the most influential evidence.

Publications over time

2011–2024

Most influential

Idecabtagene Vicleucel in Relapsed and Refractory Multiple Myeloma.

The New England journal of medicine · 2021 · 1,903 cites

Anti-BCMA CAR T-Cell Therapy bb2121 in Relapsed or Refractory Multiple Myeloma.

The New England journal of medicine · 2019 · 1,334 cites

Ciltacabtagene autoleucel, a B-cell maturation antigen-directed chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy in patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma (CARTITUDE-1): a phase 1b/2 open-label study.

Lancet (London, England) · 2021 · 1,284 cites

Long-term outcomes following CAR T cell therapy: what we know so far.

Nature reviews. Clinical oncology · 2023 · 1,032 cites

Elotuzumab Therapy for Relapsed or Refractory Multiple Myeloma.

The New England journal of medicine · 2015 · 1,019 cites

Randomized, double-blind study of denosumab versus zoledronic acid in the treatment of bone metastases in patients with advanced cancer (excluding breast and prostate cancer) or multiple myeloma.

Journal of clinical oncology : official journal of the American Society of Clinical Oncology · 2011 · 814 cites

Recent publications

A systematic review and meta-analysis of nonrelapse mortality after CAR T cell therapy.

Nature medicine · 2024 · 190 cites

Comprehensive molecular profiling of multiple myeloma identifies refined copy number and expression subtypes.

Nature genetics · 2024 · 69 cites

Neutrophil activation and clonal CAR-T re-expansion underpinning cytokine release syndrome during ciltacabtagene autoleucel therapy in multiple myeloma.

Nature communications · 2024 · 30 cites

Deciphering the genetics and mechanisms of predisposition to multiple myeloma.

Nature communications · 2024 · 23 cites

Long-term outcomes following CAR T cell therapy: what we know so far.

Nature reviews. Clinical oncology · 2023 · 1,032 cites

From bench to bedside: the history and progress of CAR T cell therapy.

Frontiers in immunology · 2023 · 292 cites

Major themes8

Multiple Myeloma10
Immunotherapy, Adoptive5
Receptors, Chimeric Antigen5
Neurotoxicity Syndromes2
B-Cell Maturation Antigen1
DNA Copy Number Variations1
Genetic Predisposition to Disease1
Genome-Wide Association Study1

Leading journals6

The New England journal of medicine5
Frontiers in immunology3
Journal of hematology & oncology3
Nature communications2
Blood1
Blood cancer journal1

Leading researchers8

Anderson KC4
Jagannath S4
Madduri D4
Berdeja J3
Einsele H3
Jakubowiak A3
Lin Y3
Lonial S3

Affiliations (unnormalised)6

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute3
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center3
Abramson Cancer Center2
Harvard Medical School2
Lincoln Medical Center2
Mount Sinai Medical Center2

Associated genes

12 matches

Genes associated with this disease in the canonical knowledge graph (Open Targets evidence). Number shows the association score.

CRBN0.68 TNFRSF170.68 CXCR40.66 NRAS0.64 XPO10.64 CD380.63 NR3C10.62 RBX10.62 PSMB80.62 PSMA30.62 PSMA40.62 CUL4A0.61

Disease biology

12 matches

Proteins whose encoding gene is associated with this disease, reached through the canonical gene→disease graph. Number shows the gene's association score.

Protein cereblonvia CRBN0.68 Tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily member 17via TNFRSF170.68 C-X-C chemokine receptor type 4via CXCR40.66 ADP-ribosyl cyclase/cyclic ADP-ribose hydrolase 1via CD380.63 Glucocorticoid receptorvia NR3C10.62 E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase RBX1via RBX10.62 Proteasome subunit beta type-8via PSMB80.62 Proteasome subunit alpha type-3via PSMA30.62 Proteasome subunit alpha type-4via PSMA40.62 Cullin-4Avia CUL4A0.61 Proteasomal ubiquitin receptor ADRM1via ADRM10.61 26S proteasome non-ATPase regulatory subunit 4via PSMD40.61

Related conditions

4 matches

Diseases frequently studied alongside this one. Number shows shared papers.

Cytokine Release Syndrome3 Lymphoma2 Neoplasms2 Neurotoxicity Syndromes2

Disease profile

A grounded synthesis of the condition — overview, causes, mechanism, risk factors and current standard of care.

Overview

Multiple myeloma is a malignancy of mature plasma cells that produces a monoclonal immunoglobulin. It is characterized by excess monoclonal light chains in the urine, skeletal destruction, bone pain, fractures, anemia, hypercalcemia, and renal insufficiency.

Causes

The supplied grounding supports an etiologic focus on genetics, but it does not specify a particular cause or causal pathway. No additional cause is supported here.

Pathophysiology

The disease arises from malignant plasma cells that engage in monoclonal immunoglobulin production. The literature grounding also highlights immune and antigen-directed biology, including CD38 and BCMA expression on myeloma cells and the use of CAR T cells, monoclonal antibodies, antibody-drug conjugates, and bispecific T-cell engagers to target these cells.

Risk factors

The supplied grounding does not identify specific risk factors for developing multiple myeloma. It only indicates that the literature covers genetics, immunology, mortality, complications, therapy, drug therapy, and etiology.

Current standard of care

Treatment is described at the modality and drug-class level as immunotherapy and drug therapy for relapsed or refractory disease, including thalidomide, lenalidomide, and elotuzumab. The grounding also supports CD38-targeting monoclonal antibodies, BCMA-targeted therapies such as CAR T cells, antibody-drug conjugates, and bispecific T-cell engagers.

AI-generated summary grounded in MeSH and 6 peer-reviewed sources. Informational only — not medical advice. Generated 2026-07-07.

Reference

Authoritative identity, definition & identifiers.

Defined in MeSH

A malignancy of mature PLASMA CELLS engaging in monoclonal immunoglobulin production. It is characterized by hyperglobulinemia, excess Bence-Jones proteins (free monoclonal IMMUNOGLOBULIN LIGHT CHAINS) in the urine, skeletal destruction, bone pain, and fractures. Other features include ANEMIA; HYPERCALCEMIA; and RENAL INSUFFICIENCY.

Identifiers

MeSHMultiple Myeloma

References & data sources

Disease identity & definition — NLM Medical Subject Headings (MeSH), public domain
Clinical trials — ClinicalTrials.gov (U.S. National Library of Medicine)
Research activity — Europe PMC (EMBL-EBI) + OpenAlex-derived paper links
Related entities are derived from literature co-mention (studied together) — associative, not causal.