Glasgow, Scotland – September 28, 2026 – The International Myeloma Society (IMS) 2026 Congress, held in Glasgow this past week, served as a critical battleground for pharmaceutical giants vying for dominance in the rapidly evolving multiple myeloma (MM) market. Data presented from Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS), Johnson & Johnson (J&J), and AbbVie captivated attendees, showcasing advancements in novel therapies and fueling intense competition as the field edges closer to potential cures for this complex blood cancer.
The annual IMS congress, a cornerstone event for hematologists, researchers, and industry stakeholders, convened from September 23rd to 26th. This year’s gathering underscored a significant paradigm shift in MM treatment, with advanced modalities such as cell and immunotherapies increasingly being integrated into earlier lines of care. The focus on achieving deeper, more durable remissions, and potentially treatment-free intervals, was palpable throughout the scientific sessions.
As the curtains close on IMS 2026, Clinical Trials Arena provides an in-depth look at the most impactful late-stage study results that are poised to reshape the therapeutic landscape and intensify the ongoing market share battle among these leading pharmaceutical innovators.
BMS’s CELMoD Breakthrough: Zenbexus Achieves Significant Milestones in Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma
One of the most closely watched presentations at IMS 2026 featured compelling data from the Phase III EXCALIBER RRMM study (NCT04975997). This pivotal trial evaluated the efficacy of Bristol Myers Squibb’s (BMS) recently approved cereblon E3 ligase modulator (CELMoD) therapy, Zenbexus (iberdomide), in patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma (R/R MM). The study pitted Zenbexus in combination with Johnson & Johnson’s (J&J) Darzalex (daratumumab) and dexamethasone (ZDd) against the established daratumumab, bortezomib, and dexamethasone (DVd) regimen in 420 evaluable patients.
Chronology of Development:
The journey of Zenbexus has been marked by strategic development and regulatory milestones. Following promising early-phase data, the Phase III EXCALIBER RRMM trial was designed to directly compare the novel CELMoD combination against a standard-of-care backbone. The study’s design aimed to demonstrate a superior efficacy profile for the ZDd regimen, particularly in achieving deep responses. The successful outcome of this trial, announced at IMS 2026, builds upon Zenbexus’s recent accelerated approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), marking a significant achievement as the first CELMoD therapy to receive regulatory clearance. This approval, occurring just over a month prior to the congress, further amplified the significance of the EXCALIBER RRMM data.
Supporting Data and Efficacy:
The results presented at IMS 2026 were striking. At a median follow-up of 15.7 months, the ZDd arm demonstrated a remarkable 41.1% rate of minimal residual disease (MRD)-negative complete response (CR). This represents a substantial improvement compared to the 20.7% MRD-negative CR rate observed in the control DVd arm. Crucially, this enhanced efficacy was consistent across various patient subgroups, including those with prior treatment experience or refractory disease to lenalidomide, underscoring the broad applicability of the ZDd regimen. The ability to achieve MRD negativity is a key indicator of long-term remission potential in multiple myeloma, making these findings particularly encouraging.
Safety Profile and Tolerability:
While the efficacy of the ZDd regimen was evident, the study also highlighted a notable difference in safety profiles. Patients treated with ZDd experienced a higher incidence of Grade 3 or 4 neutropenia, with 84.3% of participants developing this side effect, compared to 11.3% in the DVd arm. However, BMS emphasized that this adverse event was largely manageable through treatment modifications and temporary dose interruptions. The company reported that only a small fraction of patients (1%) discontinued Zenbexus treatment due to neutropenia, suggesting a favorable risk-benefit profile despite the higher rate of this specific side effect. This demonstrates a commitment to balancing aggressive treatment with patient tolerability.
Implications and Market Impact:
The positive EXCALIBER RRMM results solidify BMS’s position in the MM market, further strengthening its existing portfolio which includes the CAR-T cell therapy Abecma (idecabtagene vicleucel) and the immunomodulatory drug Pomalyst (pomalidomide). The introduction of Zenbexus as a novel mechanism of action, combined with the well-established efficacy of daratumumab, presents a potent new therapeutic option for patients with R/R MM. This data is expected to drive significant uptake of the ZDd regimen, potentially challenging existing treatment standards and creating a competitive advantage for BMS. The company’s strategic expansion with CELMoD technology signifies a commitment to innovation and a comprehensive approach to tackling multiple myeloma across different lines of therapy.
J&J’s Carvykti Shines: Long-Term Data Reveals Sustained Treatment-Free Remissions
Johnson & Johnson (J&J) also captured significant attention at IMS 2026 with the presentation of long-term follow-up data from the Phase II CARTITUDE study (NCT04133636). This trial investigated the durable efficacy of their BCMA-directed CAR-T therapy, Carvykti (ciltacabtagene autoleucel), in patients with early-line R/R MM. The data offered a compelling glimpse into the potential for sustained, treatment-free remission in a significant proportion of patients.
Chronology of Development:
Carvykti has been a groundbreaking therapy in the CAR-T space for multiple myeloma. The CARTITUDE program, encompassing multiple studies, has been instrumental in demonstrating its efficacy and safety. The CARTITUDE-1 study, which provided early evidence for Carvykti’s potential, paved the way for further investigations, including the CARTITUDE-2 study, which focused on earlier lines of treatment. The long-term follow-up data presented at IMS 2026 represents a crucial extension of these findings, offering insights into the durability of response beyond initial treatment cycles. This extended follow-up is critical for understanding the long-term impact of CAR-T therapy and its potential to offer patients a chance at sustained disease control.
Supporting Data and Efficacy:
The five-year follow-up data from the CARTITUDE study was particularly impressive. At the five-year mark, a remarkable 50% of patients treated with a single dose of Carvykti remained alive and progression-free without the need for further maintenance therapy. The five-year overall survival (OS) rate stood at 62.9%, with a median progression-free survival (PFS) of 60.5 months. These figures underscore the profound and lasting impact of Carvykti. Furthermore, researchers observed that the durable treatment effect of Carvykti was maintained even in patients with high-risk disease features. Notably, half of the patients who remained progression-free at five years possessed at least one high-risk cytogenetic abnormality, suggesting that Carvykti can overcome some of the prognostic challenges associated with these adverse genetic markers.
Expert Endorsement and Treatment Paradigm Shift:
Professor Niels van de Donk, a leading hematologist from the University Medical Center in Amsterdam, Netherlands, commented on the significance of these findings. He stated, "These new CARTITUDE findings provide further evidence that the use of established therapies earlier on in the treatment paradigm could allow more patients the opportunity to achieve deep, durable remissions and long-term disease control without maintenance." This sentiment highlights the potential for Carvykti, and similar advanced therapies, to fundamentally alter the treatment paradigm for multiple myeloma, shifting the focus from chronic disease management to achieving definitive long-term remissions.
Implications and Market Impact:
These long-term Carvykti data represent a significant step forward for J&J’s multiple myeloma franchise. The company is strategically aiming to integrate its portfolio, including Darzalex, Tecvayli (teclistamab), and Talvey (talquetamab), into earlier treatment lines. Carvykti’s demonstrated ability to induce sustained, treatment-free remissions in half of treated patients, even those with high-risk disease, positions it as a highly attractive option for early-line therapy. Analysts at GlobalData, the parent company of Clinical Trials Arena, forecast that Carvykti will achieve substantial sales, projecting $6.3 billion in revenue by 2032. This projection reflects the anticipated broad adoption and significant impact of Carvykti in the MM market.
AbbVie’s Bispecific Antibody Etentamig Shows Promise in Head-to-Head Comparison
AbbVie presented compelling data from the Phase III CERVINO study (NCT06158841) at IMS 2026, highlighting the potential of its bispecific T-cell engager (BiTE) therapy, etentamig. This BCMA x CD3 bispecific antibody demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in progression-free survival (PFS) compared to standard available therapies (SATs) in patients with R/R MM.
Chronology of Development:
AbbVie’s development of etentamig represents a strategic investment in the bispecific antibody space for hematological malignancies. The CERVINO study, a global, randomized, open-label Phase III trial, was designed to directly assess the efficacy and safety of etentamig against a comparator arm of standard therapies. This trial builds upon earlier positive data presented for etentamig, reinforcing its therapeutic potential. The presentation of these Phase III results at IMS 2026 marks a critical milestone, providing robust evidence to support potential regulatory submissions and commercialization efforts.
Supporting Data and Efficacy:
The CERVINO study results were highly encouraging. At a median follow-up of 11.4 months, etentamig demonstrated a 60% reduction in the risk of disease progression or death compared to SATs. Furthermore, twice the number of patients treated with etentamig remained progression-free at 12 months compared to those receiving SATs. This PFS benefit was observed across all patient subgroups, including those with challenging-to-treat disease. Beyond PFS, the study also indicated a positive trend in overall survival (OS), with nearly 90% of patients on etentamig alive at 12 months, compared to 72% in the SAT arm.
A particularly notable finding was etentamig’s impact on MRD negativity. An impressive 82.8% of patients treated with etentamig achieved MRD negativity (defined as <10-4), significantly outperforming the 12.5% rate observed in the SAT arms. This high rate of deep molecular response suggests a potential for prolonged remissions and underscores etentamig’s ability to induce profound anti-myeloma activity.
Safety and Tolerability Profile:
AbbVie also highlighted the favorable safety profile of etentamig. The study reported a low incidence of severe infections and cytokine release syndrome (CRS), two common adverse events associated with T-cell engager therapies. This suggests that etentamig may possess a "best-in-class" safety profile, potentially making it more amenable to administration in a wider range of treatment centers, including non-academic settings. This characteristic could be a significant advantage in terms of patient access and treatment delivery.
Implications and Market Impact:
If etentamig secures regulatory approval, it will directly compete with J&J’s Tecvayli, another anti-BCMA x CD3 bispecific antibody. The comparative data, particularly the PFS and MRD negativity rates, will be critical in differentiating these therapies. Analysts at GlobalData project significant market potential for both bispecific antibodies, forecasting etentamig to generate $756 million in sales by 2032, while Tecvayli is expected to reach $5 billion in sales during the same period. The success of etentamig would further solidify AbbVie’s presence in the competitive MM landscape and provide a novel therapeutic option with a potentially favorable safety profile.
The Intensifying Battle for Market Share
The data presented at IMS 2026 unequivocally demonstrates that the multiple myeloma landscape is undergoing a period of rapid innovation and intense competition. BMS’s Zenbexus, J&J’s Carvykti, and AbbVie’s etentamig represent distinct therapeutic approaches, each with the potential to significantly impact patient outcomes and redefine treatment standards.
The convergence of novel mechanisms of action, including CELMoDs, CAR-T therapies, and bispecific antibodies, is driving the field towards deeper, more durable remissions, and the tantalizing prospect of treatment-free intervals. As these therapies move into earlier lines of treatment, the battle for market share among these pharmaceutical titans is set to intensify, benefiting patients with an expanding array of highly effective treatment options. The ongoing clinical development and the competitive dynamics observed at IMS 2026 suggest a future where multiple myeloma is increasingly managed as a chronic, and potentially curable, disease.
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