Added benefit of Empliciti combo in multiple myeloma not proven, says IQWiG

In an early benefit assessment, the German Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) has now examined whether patients treated for multiple myeloma with the monoclonal antibody Empliciti (elotuzumab) in combination with lenalidomide (Revlimid) and dexamethasone who have received one previous treatment benefit from this new combination.

Empliciti, co-developed by US drugmakers Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE: BMY) and AbbVie (NYSE: ABBV), was approved for marketing in Europe in May this year.

Since the only study submitted by the drug manufacturer was unsuitable for answering this research question because the dosage of a comparator drug was too low, it was concluded that an added benefit of the new combination therapy in comparison with the appropriate comparator therapy is not proven.