Practice-changing updates on multiple myeloma: highlights from the 2024 ASH annual meeting

Although multiple myeloma (MM) remains an incurable disease, the advancements in patient management are rapid and novel approaches emerge each year. At the last congress of the American Society of Hematology (ASH) 2024, several practice-changing studies were presented that challenge current standards of care for patients with multiple myeloma. The AQUILA study introduced monotherapy with daratumumab for patients with high-risk smoldering MM. For both transplant eligible and ineligible patients with symptomatic MM, anti-CD38-based quadruplets are now established as the primary standard regimens. Emerging data has demonstrated the utility of belantamab mafodotin, an anti-BCMA antibody drug conjugate, in combination with other standard therapies in early relapsed myeloma. Furthermore, a more simplified myeloma response assessment may be feasible. Overall, we provide a critical summary of key studies on MM from the last ASH meeting.