GlaxoSmithKline has announced positive headline results from a pivotal DREAMM-2 study, analysing the use of belantamab mafodotin (GSK285791) in multiple myeloma.

The two-arm study met its primary objective and demonstrated a clinically meaningful overall response rate, setting the drug on track for regulatory submission by the end of 2019.

The 196 relapsed multiple myeloma patients in the trial were refractory to an immunomodulatory drug, a proteasome inhibitor, and to treatment with an anti-CD38 antibody.

The company announced that safety and efficacy results from the DREAMM-2 study will be submitted for presentation at an upcoming scientific meeting. Additional ongoing studies are testing the effect of the drug as third-line monotherapy in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma and as a combination treatment in the first and second line setting as part of the broader DREAMM clinical development programme.

Dr Hal Barron, chief scientific officer and president R&D, said that the company are “pleased with the results of the DREAMM-2 study and excited about what these data could mean for patients with multiple myeloma who have exhausted other lines of treatment.”

He continued, “We are on track to file belantamab mafodotin later this year and continue to investigate how it could help even more patients with this disease.”

Multiple myeloma is the second most common blood cancer and is generally considered treatable, but not curable. Research into new therapies is needed as multiple myeloma commonly becomes refractory to available treatments.