Johnson & Johnson: Cepheus Phase 3 Study Shows Improvement for Patients With Multiple Myeloma

By Emon Reiser

Johnson & Johnson said patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma, a type of bone cancer, saw improvement with its darzalex faspro treatment.

Results for the company's Cepheus phase 3 trial showed a 60.9% improvement in eliminating cancer cells and a 43% reduction in the cancer progressing or causing death when its treatmentis used in combination with bortezomib, lenalidomide and dexamethasone (D-VRd), the company said Friday.

"The Cepheus study results show that 60% of patients achieved [minimal residual disease] negativity, which is clinically important for physicians treating patients with multiple myeloma and, in general, a strong predictor of improved long-term outcomes, including progression-free survival and overall survival," said Dr. Saad Z. Usmani, a study investigator.

Darzalex faspro received approval from the Food and Drug Administration in May 2020 and is approved for nine indications in multiple myeloma, four of which are for frontline treatment in newly diagnosed patients, including those who are not eligible for transplants.

The Cepheus trial has 396 patients in 13 countries. Results were presented in a late-breaking oral presentation at the International Myeloma Society Annual Meeting in Rio de Janeiro.

Write to Emon Reiser at emon.reiser@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

September 27, 2024 15:28 ET (19:28 GMT)

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