New blood cancer pill opens a drug class
A new oral treatment for an aggressive blood cancer has been approved by US regulators. It is the first drug in an entirely new class of medicines, and it was assessed using a more sensitive measure of remission than previously used.
The FDA approved iberdomide, to be sold as Zenbexus, for the treatment of advanced multiple myeloma, a cancer of plasma cells in the bone marrow. The drug was developed by Bristol Myers Squibb and is used in combination with two existing treatments: daratumumab and dexamethasone. It is indicated for patients who have already received at least one prior line of therapy.
Iberdomide belongs to a class called cereblon E3 ligase modulators (CELMoDs). These compounds direct the cell’s protein disposal system to degrade specific proteins that cancer cells depend on for growth. This mechanism differs from existing drugs, including thalidomide analogues that have been used in myeloma treatment for decades.
A sharper standard for approval
Notably, this was the first FDA approval based on a more sensitive measure of remission: minimal residual disease (MRD)-negative status. This tests at the molecular level whether any cancer cells remain, going beyond what traditional remission criteria can detect. It signals a broader shift in how the FDA evaluates cancer medicines.
Relevance for aging and cancer
Multiple myeloma predominantly affects people over 65. Age is one of the strongest risk factors. The approval of a first-in-class agent opens the door to new combinations with other therapies, potentially broadening treatment options for older patients. Whether iberdomide confers long-term survival benefits has not yet been fully established; further data are needed.
Search terms to explore further: CELMoD cereblon E3 ligase modulator, minimal residual disease myeloma, targeted protein degradation cancer