Safety results from REALiTAL: A multi-country observational retrospective study of talquetamab in patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma outside of clinical trials

R Rakesh Popat (University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London) K Katarina Uttervall (2Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden) A Aurore Perrot H Hila Magen (Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Ramat-Gan, Israel) V Vitaliy Mykytiv (1Haematology Department, Cork University Hospital, Cork, Ireland) C Carmine Liberatore (3Hematology Unit, Santo Spirito Hospital, Pescara, Italy) E Elena Zamagni M Matteo Claudio Da Vià (2Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Hematology Unit, Milan, Italy) E Elisabetta Antonioli (2Hematology Unit, Careggi Hospital, Firenze, Italy) M Markus Hansson (Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden) D Danielle Greer (12Parexel International, London, United Kingdom) P Peter Hu E Eric Aeby (14Johnson & Johnson, Zug, Switzerland) K Krystof Subrt (15Johnson & Johnson, Prague, Czech Republic) N Nicholas Francella (16Johnson & Johnson, Beerse, Belgium) D Diptendu Santra (17Parexel International, on behalf of Johnson & Johnson, Uxbridge, United Kingdom) N Natalia Martin Suñe (18Johnson & Johnson, Madrid, Spain) K K. Martin Kortüm (5Department of Medicine II, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany)

Abstract

Abstract Introduction: Talquetamab is the first approved bispecific antibody targeting GPRC5D and CD3 for the treatment of patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM). With a median follow-up of over 30 months, the pivotal phase I/II MonumenTAL-1 (N=375) trial showed an overall response rate of ≥66.7% across all cohorts. Median duration of response was 9.5 months (every week [QW]) and 17.5 months (every-other-week [Q2W]). Median progression-free survival was 7.5 months (QW) and 11.2 months (Q2W). Common adverse events (AEs) in MonumenTAL-1 included cytokine release syndrome (CRS), taste-related AEs, and non-rash skin-related AEs. REALiTAL is a retrospective non-interventional study of patients receiving talquetamab outside of clinical trials, with the majority of patients included as part of pre-approval access programs. Topline efficacy and safety data have been published previously. Here, we report further in-depth safety data from the REALiTAL study. Methods: Eligible patients provided informed consent and received the first dose of talquetamab on or before December 31, 2023. Data, including baseline characteristics, prior therapies, and safety information, were collected from medical records. Safety data included incidence and severity of CRS, immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS), infections, and GPRC5D-related AEs. AEs were graded by CTCAE v4.03. CRS and ICANS were graded by ASTCT criteria. Results: Overall, 93 eligible patients were included in REALiTAL across 26 sites in 7 countries. Median follow-up was 15 (Range, 0.4–25.3) months. Patients were heavily pretreated, with a median of 5 (range: 2–16) prior lines of therapy. Almost all patients (97.8%) were triple-class exposed, and most (86.0%) were penta-class exposed. Fifty-seven (61.3%) patients had previously received BCMA-targeted therapies. The most common treatment-emergent AEs were CRS (55.9%), infections (47.3%), skin/nail toxicity (67.7%), and oral toxicity (66.7%) including dysgeusia (57%). CRS was mostly grade 1/2; 1 (1.1%) patient had a grade 3 event. Twenty-two (23.7%) patients received tocilizumab for CRS, including 1 as prophylaxis. All but 1 CRS event resolved or was resolving at data collection. There were 2 (2.2%; both grade 1) cases of ICANS. One patient reported a grade 3/4 nervous system disorder; no ataxia/balance disorders were reported. Forty-two (45.2%) patients received immunoglobulin replacement, 35 (37.6%) as primary prophylaxis for infection and 4 (4.3%) as secondary prophylaxis. Overall, 44 (47.3%) patients had an infection; 8 (8.6%) were grade 3/4, and only 1 (1.1%) patient discontinued due to infection (septic shock). Skin and nail AEs occurred in 63 (67.7%) patients; all were grade 1/2 except 1 (1.1%) grade 3 AE. Thirty-three (35.5%) patients received treatment for skin and nail toxicities, 2 (2.2%) as prophylaxis. Four (4.3%) patients interrupted talquetamab due to skin and nail AEs, but none discontinued. Twenty-six (28%) patients received treatment for oral toxicities, 2 (2.2%) as prophylaxis. Oral toxicity occurred in 62 (66.7%) patients, mostly grade 1/2 with 1 case of grade 4 stomatitis that did not lead to discontinuation. Two (2.2%) patients interrupted study drug, 1 (1.1%) reduced dose, and 1 (1.1%) discontinued due to oral toxicities. Seventy-five percent of skin and nail toxicity events and 58% of oral toxicity events resolved or were resolving at the time of data collection. There were 8 (8.6%) deaths, none were considered related to talquetamab. Conclusions: AEs in REALiTAL were clinically manageable, with no new safety signals identified. CRS was mostly low grade and resolved, with limited use of tocilizumab in the study. Oral and skin toxicity was reversible with most events improved. Rates of serious infections were low, and few patients discontinued treatment due to GPRC5D-related AEs, with just 1 discontinuation due to dysgeusia. Overall, the safety profile of talquetamab was consistent with that observed in MonumenTAL-1.

Article Details

Journal Blood
Volume / Issue Vol. 146, Issue Supplement 1
Published November 03, 2025
Pages 4573-4573
ISSN 0006-4971
Publisher Elsevier BV

Journal Info

Blood

Elsevier BV

ISSN: 0006-4971 Health Sciences

Authors (18)

R

Rakesh Popat

University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London

K

Katarina Uttervall

2Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden

A

Aurore Perrot

H

Hila Magen

Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Ramat-Gan, Israel

V

Vitaliy Mykytiv

1Haematology Department, Cork University Hospital, Cork, Ireland

C

Carmine Liberatore

3Hematology Unit, Santo Spirito Hospital, Pescara, Italy

E

Elena Zamagni

M

Matteo Claudio Da Vià

2Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Hematology Unit, Milan, Italy

E

Elisabetta Antonioli

2Hematology Unit, Careggi Hospital, Firenze, Italy

M

Markus Hansson

Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden

D

Danielle Greer

12Parexel International, London, United Kingdom

P

Peter Hu

E

Eric Aeby

14Johnson & Johnson, Zug, Switzerland

K

Krystof Subrt

15Johnson & Johnson, Prague, Czech Republic

N

Nicholas Francella

16Johnson & Johnson, Beerse, Belgium

D

Diptendu Santra

17Parexel International, on behalf of Johnson & Johnson, Uxbridge, United Kingdom

N

Natalia Martin Suñe

18Johnson & Johnson, Madrid, Spain

K

K. Martin Kortüm

5Department of Medicine II, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany