Multiple Myeloma
A blood cancer of plasma cells. One of the most dramatic drug discovery success stories — average life expectancy has gone from 2 years to nearly 20. Major theme in Session II (John Reed, J&J).
The J&J Myeloma Stack
| Drug | Mechanism | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Velcade | Proteasome inhibitor (first) | Approved |
| Darzalex | Anti-CD38 (first myeloma biologic; top-10 selling medicine) | Approved |
| Carvykti | BCMA CAR-T (~half show functional cure) | Approved |
| Tecvayli | BCMA T-cell engager (85% long-term survival 2L; 55-day FDA approval) | Approved |
| Talvey | GPRC5D T-cell engager (J&J-discovered antigen) | Approved |
Significance
- Demonstrates the power of Reed’s “disease-area strongholds” model: compounding domain knowledge over 20+ years
- BCMA CAR-T showing signs of functional cure — potentially the first time that word applies to a hematologic malignancy at scale
- Tecvayli’s 55-day approval via FDA Commissioner’s National Priority Review Voucher signals regulatory alignment with transformative data
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