Isatuximab (Isa) subcutaneous (SC) via an on-body injector (OBI) vs isa intravenous (IV), plus pomalidomide and dexamethasone (Pd) in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM): East asia subgroup results from the randomized, non-inferiority, phase 3 iraklia study

X Xuelin Dou (1Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, China) C Chunrui Li (3Department of Hematology, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China) A Aijun Liao Y Yafei Wang Z Zhongjun Xia (6Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China) J Jing Liu H Hong Cen Y Yan Xu F Fei Li T Tadao Ishida (Japanese Red Cross Medical Center, Tokyo) Y Yuping Zhong (7Qingdao Municipal Hospital, QingDao, China) S Satoshi Ito T Togano Tomiteru (14Shonan Kamakura General Hospital, Kanagawa, Japan) B Baijun Fang (1Department of Hematology, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University and Henan Cancer Hospital, zhengzhou, China) C Chunyan Sun (School of Mathematics and Physics, Anqing Normal University 1 , Anqing 246133,) H Hongmei Jing M Masaki Ri T Toshiyuki Kitano K Kazutaka Sunami C Chihiro Shimazaki (Japan Community Health care Organization Kyoto Kuramaguchi Medical Center, Kyoto, Japan) S Shigeki Ito (21Iwate Medical University Hospital, Yahaba, Japan) J Jie Jin (School of Emergency Management, School of the Environment and Safety Engineering) R Rong Fu (Optogenetics & Synthetic Biology Interdisciplinary Research Center, Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Optogenetic Techniques for Cell Metabolism, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Mei Long Road, Shanghai 200237, China) T Takuya Komeno (24National Hospital Organization Mito Medical Center, Ibaraki, Japan) K Kosei Matsue (25Kameda Medical Center, Chiba, Japan) S Shang-Yi Huang (Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital) S Sikander Ailawadhi (17Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL) F Florence Suzan Teisserenc (28Sanofi, Research and Development, Vitry-sur-Seine, France) D Dan Gao X Xu Wang Y Yi Li G Gang Liu J Jin Lu (Center for Biological Physics, Arizona State University)

Abstract

Abstract Background: Intravenous (IV) isatuximab plus pomalidomide and dexamethasone (Isa-Pd) is approved for treatment in patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) based on the ICARIA-MM study. Subcutaneous (SC) administration of Isa offers potential advantages such as shorter administration duration and greater patient comfort compared with IV routes. Isa SC via an on-body injector (OBI), an investigational wearable bolus injector, demonstrated safety and efficacy in a Phase 1b study in patients with RRMM. The IRAKLIA trial (NCT05405166) was the first Phase 3 trial evaluating the non-inferiority of Isa-Pd SC via an OBI vs Isa-Pd IV in patients with RRMM. Here, we report the findings of the IRAKLIA trial in the East Asian subgroup with RRMM. Methods: This global, multicenter, open-label study enrolledpatients aged ≥18 years with RRMM who had received ≥1 prior line of therapy (LOT) including lenalidomide and a proteasome inhibitor (PI). Patients were randomized 1:1 to Isa SC (1400 mg) or Isa IV (10 mg/kg) weekly in Cycle (C)1, then every 2 weeks in addition to P (4 mg orally daily, Day [D]1-21) and d (40 mg orally [20 mg if age ≥75 years] weekly). Treatment was administered in 4-week cycles and continued until disease progression, unacceptable toxicity, or patient withdrawal. Co-primary endpoints included overall response rate (ORR) and observed Isa concentration before dosing (Ctrough) at steady state (predose at C6D1). Key secondary endpoints included rate of very good partial response or better (≥VGPR), Ctroughlevel Cycle 2 Day 1 (C2D1), infusion reaction incidence, and patient satisfaction rate based on the patient experience and satisfaction questionnaire (PESQ) at C5D15. Results: The East Asian subgroup consisted of 105 patients from China (Mainland, n=82 and Taiwan, n=1) and Japan(n=22) (SC, n=50; IV, n=55). Baseline characteristics of the East Asian subgroup were generally balanced between the two arms and generally comparable to the overall global population (median age 62 years; median 2 prior LOT; 29.5% high-risk cytogenetics; 82.9% refractory to lenalidomide; 7.6% prior exposure to daratumumab). After a median of 13.0 months follow-up, ORR in the SC and IV arm was 74.0% and 70.9%, respectively (relative risk [95% CI] = 1.044 [0.815 – 1.335]). The mean (SD) of Ctroughat C6D1 was 502 (232) µg/mL for SC arm and 282 (123) µg/mL for IV arm. The geometric mean ratio (90% CI) comparing SC to IV for Ctrough at steady state was 1.756 (1.346 – 2.290). The ≥VGPR rates were 58.0% for SC and 50.9% for IV (relative risk [95% CI] = 1.139 [0.798 – 1.631]). The mean(SD) of C2D1 Ctroughlevel was 420 (161) µg/mL for the SC arm and 262 (111) µg/mL for IV arm. The geometric mean ratio (90% CI) comparing SC to IV for Ctrough at C2D1 was 1.673 (1.321 to 2.120). The infusion reaction incidence was 0% and 21.8% for SC and IV, respectively. Grade ≥3treatment-emergent adverse events were observed in 82.0% and 87.3% of patients in the SC and IV arms, respectively. Treatment discontinuation rates were 6% for the SC arm and 12.7% for the IV arm. Injection site reactions (ISRs) occurred in 4% (2/50) of patients in the SC arm and in 0.21% (2/964) of SC injections (all Grade 1), with 99.3% of SC injections completed successfully. Isa SC patients expressed higher satisfaction with their injection method, with 64.0% of patients reporting “satisfied” or “very satisfied” vs 52.7% of Isa IV patients (odds ratio [95% CI] = 1.594 [0.728 – 3.489]). Conclusions: The efficacy, safety and pharmacokinetic results between Isa SC vs IV + Pd in the East Asian population from the IRAKLIA study were consistent with the results of the overall global population, in which non-inferiority of ORR, Ctrough at C6D1, ≥VGPR and Ctrough at C2D1 was demonstrated and statistically significantly fewer infusion reactions and higher patient satisfaction were also noted for SC vs IV. These results support the potential use of Isa SC delivered via OBI in East Asian patients and demonstrate the potential of this delivery method to improve patient experience and practice efficiency.

Article Details

Journal Blood
Volume / Issue Vol. 146, Issue Supplement 1
Published November 03, 2025
Pages 5819-5819
ISSN 0006-4971
Publisher Elsevier BV

Journal Info

Blood

Elsevier BV

ISSN: 0006-4971 Health Sciences

Authors (33)

X

Xuelin Dou

1Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, China

C

Chunrui Li

3Department of Hematology, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China

A

Aijun Liao

Y

Yafei Wang

Z

Zhongjun Xia

6Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China

J

Jing Liu

H

Hong Cen

Y

Yan Xu

F

Fei Li

T

Tadao Ishida

Japanese Red Cross Medical Center, Tokyo

Y

Yuping Zhong

7Qingdao Municipal Hospital, QingDao, China

S

Satoshi Ito

T

Togano Tomiteru

14Shonan Kamakura General Hospital, Kanagawa, Japan

B

Baijun Fang

1Department of Hematology, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University and Henan Cancer Hospital, zhengzhou, China

C

Chunyan Sun

School of Mathematics and Physics, Anqing Normal University 1 , Anqing 246133,

H

Hongmei Jing

M

Masaki Ri

T

Toshiyuki Kitano

K

Kazutaka Sunami

C

Chihiro Shimazaki

Japan Community Health care Organization Kyoto Kuramaguchi Medical Center, Kyoto, Japan

S

Shigeki Ito

21Iwate Medical University Hospital, Yahaba, Japan

J

Jie Jin

School of Emergency Management, School of the Environment and Safety Engineering

R

Rong Fu

Optogenetics & Synthetic Biology Interdisciplinary Research Center, Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Optogenetic Techniques for Cell Metabolism, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Mei Long Road, Shanghai 200237, China

T

Takuya Komeno

24National Hospital Organization Mito Medical Center, Ibaraki, Japan

K

Kosei Matsue

25Kameda Medical Center, Chiba, Japan

S

Shang-Yi Huang

Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital

S

Sikander Ailawadhi

17Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL

F

Florence Suzan Teisserenc

28Sanofi, Research and Development, Vitry-sur-Seine, France

D

Dan Gao

X

Xu Wang

Y

Yi Li

G

Gang Liu

J

Jin Lu

Center for Biological Physics, Arizona State University