Managing Talquetamab Side Effects in Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma

This plain language summary breaks down the side effect management approaches used in the MonumenTAL-1 study, offering a comprehensive look at how researchers and clinicians addressed treatment-related considerations for multiple myeloma patients receiving talquetamab therapy. View the full article Plain Language Summary What is this summary about? This summary describes side effects management in the MonumenTAL-1 clinical trial, testing the drug talquetamab in participants with relapsed/ refractory multiple myeloma. What were the study results? More than 70% of participants had their cancer get better or become undetectable, with some in remission for months or years. Some participants had side effects, with some linked to how talquetamab works. Adjustments to the dose or frequency of talquetamab treatment were helpful for some participants with oral side effects and nail changes. Moisturizers and corticosteroids (medicines that reduce immune reactions) were used to manage skin and nail side effects. Participants who benefited from talquetamab, but had to modify their dose, were still likely to continue receiving the same benefits as participants who did not alter their dose. Other side effects included infections, cytokine release syndrome, and immune effector cell–associated neurotoxicity syndrome. These side effects were prevented and/or treated using strategies agreed upon by healthcare professionals for people receiving cancer treatment. Almost all these side effects had resolved at study follow-up. What do the results of this study mean? While most patients’ cancer gets better with talquetamab, patients should work proactively with their healthcare team to manage side effects.