Isatuximab in Combination With Rd Compared to Rd in Elderly Patients (Aged ≥70 Years) With NDMM

As optimal tolerance is the key for developing new treatments for the very elderly population, the aim of the study is to compare the efficacy and tolerance of isatuximab in combination with lenalidomide+dexamethasone (Rd) versus Rd only in very elderly patients aged 70 years or older. ln sum, a clear and clinically highly relevant benefit is expected with the isatuximab-based triple combination compared to the standard Rd doublet.

The treatment goals in elderly patients with multiple myeloma (MM) are similar to those in younger patients: rapid and long-lasting symptom control, deep response and durable remissions as well as increased survival are at the forefront, similar to therapy goals in younger patients. Elderly patients frequently present with comorbidities, reduced treatment tolerance and greater frequency of treatment discontinuations. Hence, treatment needs to be adapted to the specific needs of this patient population.

ln the recent decade lenalidomide-based therapies have been established as effective treatment modalities in elderly patients. In elderly patients lenalidomide + dexamethasone (Rd) is one of the most frequently used treatment regimens, which is effective and well tolerated.

MM is a high unmet medical need and as a result, several agents are currently under clinical investigation in MM. Monoclonal antibodies (mAb) are one of the most promising groups of drugs in development in the treatment of MM with several of them demonstrating activity in this disease. lsatuximab is a highly effective monoclonal antibody with an excellent activity and tolerance profile, active as single agent therapy in patients with multiple prior lines of treatment.

Presently several trials with isatuximab-lenalidomide containing treatment regimens are ongoing. The expected benefits of adding isatuximab to Rd over Rd alone in very elderly patients seem to outweigh possible risks by far.

A greater depth of response is anticipated including greater number of MRD (minimal residual disease) negative patients, higher response rates, and longer progression free survival.

Risk conferred with the addition of isatuximab are mainly restricted to a roughly 40% rate of infusion reactions, which usually are seen at the first infusion only. ln addition, there is an increased risk for grade 4 leukopenia, grade 2 and 3 thrombocytopenia, and grade 3 infection and fatigue.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* Age ≥ 70 years
* Able to provide written informed consent in accordance with federal, local, and institutional guidelines
* Patients must have newly diagnosed, symptomatic multiple myeloma with evidence of measurable disease (assessed within 21 days prior to randomization)

  * Serum M protein ≥0.5 g/dL measured using serum protein immunoelectrophoresis and/or
  * Urine M protein ≥200 mg/24 hours measured using urine protein immunoelectrophoresis and/or
  * In subjects without detectable serum or urine M-protein, serum free light chain (SFLC) ≥100 mg/L (involved light chain) and an abnormal FLC ratio
* No prior treatment for multiple myeloma
* Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status (ECOG PS) of 0-2
* Patients at cardiac risk (NYHA \>ll) or pre-existing coronary heart disease, or any other clinically relevant cardiac complication) should be scheduled for a baseline ECHO and can only be included if the LVEF is \>40%
* Adequate organ and bone marrow function within the 21 days prior to randomization defined by:

  * Bilirubin \< 2 times the upper limit of normal (ULN), Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) \< 3 times the ULN
  * absolute neutrophil count (ANC) ≥ 750/mm3 (growth factor support for max 3 days allowed to achieve this value)
  * Hemoglobin \>8.0 g/dL (Use of erythropoietic stimulating factors and red blood cell \[RBC\] transfusion per institutional guidelines is allowed, however the most recent RBC transfusion may not have been done within 7 days prior to obtaining screening hemoglobin.)
  * Platelet count \>50,000/mm3
  * Calculated or measured creatinine clearance (CrCl) of ≥30 mL/min; Calculation should be based on the MDRD formula (age, gender, black/non- black, weight, height)

Exclusion Criteria:

* ECOG status \>2
* Patients unlikely to tolerate Rd
* Waldenström macroglobulinemia
* POEMS syndrome (polyneuropathy, organomegaly, endocrinopathy, monoclonal protein, and skin changes)
* Plasma cell leukemia (\> 2.0 x 10\^9/L circulating plasma cells by standard differential)
* Myelodysplastic syndrome
* Smoldering Myeloma and MGUS
* Second malignancy within the past 5 years except:

  * Adequately treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer
  * Carcinoma in situ of the cervix
  * Prostate cancer ≤ Gleason score 6 with stable prostate-specific antigen (PSA over 12 months)
  * Ductal breast carcinoma in situ with full surgical resection (i.e., negative margins)
  * Treated medullary or papillary thyroid cancer
  * Other tumors with low risk of recurrence/metastases and/or early stage R0 surgery
* History of or current amyloidosis
* Glucocorticoid therapy within the 14 days prior to randomization that exceeds an accumulated dose of 160 mg dexamethasone or 1000 mg prednisone
* Extended field radio therapy (more than 3 fields) within the 21 days prior to randomization
* Contraindication to isatuximab, dexamethasone, lenalidomide or any of the required concomitant drugs or supportive treatments, including hypersensitivity to antiviral drugs
* Active congestive heart failure (New York Heart Association \[NYHA\] Class III or IV), symptomatic ischemia, conduction abnormalities uncontrolled by conventional intervention, acute diffuse infiltrative pulmonary disease, pericardial disease, or myocardial infarction within 4 months prior to enrolment
* Active infection within the 14 days prior to randomization requiring systemic antibiotics and/or antiviral therapy
* Uncontrolled hypertension or uncontrolled diabetes despite medication
* Significant neuropathy (Grade 2 with pain or Grade 3 or higher) within the 14 days prior to randomization
* Known cirrhosis
* Known human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) seropositivity or active hepatitis C or hepatitis B infection (subjects with past hepatitis B virus \[HBV\] infection or resolved HBV infection defined as having a negative HBsAg test and a positive antibody to hepatitis B core antigen \[anti HBc\] antibody test are eligible; subjects positive for hepatitis C virus \[HCV\] antibody are eligible only if polymerase chain reaction \[PCR\] is negative for HCV RNA.)
* Participation in another interventional study within the 28 days prior to randomization
* Major surgery (except kyphoplasty) within the 28 days prior to randomization
* Any other clinically significant medical disease or social condition that, in the Investigator's opinion, may interfere with protocol adherence or a subject's ability to give informed consent, be compliant with study procedures, or provide accurate information.