VIDEO: Bone disease remains 'critical' issue in managing multiple myeloma

Noopur Raje, MD, director of the Center for Multiple Myeloma at the Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center in Boston, discusses recent data and ongoing investigation into the treatment of bone disease in multiple myeloma.

“In only this last year, we have had four new drug approvals — and with all of these new drugs available to us, our patients with multiple myeloma are living a lot longer,” she said. “[But] the complication of bone disease … has not gone away, and our patients are at a continued risk.”

Raje covers specific therapeutic approaches from bisphosphonates including zoledronic acid to monoclonal antibodies including denosumab (Prolia, Amgen). She also highlights the potential of the protein therapeutic sotatercept (ACE-011; Acceleron, Celgene) directed against activin a, and the hope of targeting other cytokines.

“Not only will we have the goal of preventing bone disease in multiple myeloma patients, but these strategies will allow bone healing in the future for multiple myeloma patients.”