Clinical trial · Interventional
A Study of Melphalan Flufenamide (Melflufen)-Dex or Pomalidomide-dex for RRMM Patients Refractory to Lenalidomide
A Randomized, Controlled, Open-label, Phase 3 Study of Melflufen/Dexamethasone Compared With Pomalidomide/Dexamethasone for Patients With Relapsed Refractory Multiple Myeloma Who Are Refractory to Lenalidomide
- Source
- ClinicalTrials.gov
- Retrieved
- Sep 8, 2026
- Layer
- normalized (units and labels harmonized; values unchanged)
- Run
- ING-CLINICALTRIALS-20260908-000001
Why stopped (as posted): Sponsor assessed all endpoints and collected Overall Survival data for another two years following the primary completion date of 03Feb2021.
Summary
Brief summary (as posted)
This was a randomized, controlled, open-label, Phase 3 multicenter study which enrolled patients with RRMM following 2-4 lines of prior therapy and who were refractory to lenalidomide in the last line of therapy as demonstrated by disease progression on or within 60 days of completion of the last dose of lenalidomide. Patients received either melflufen+dex or pomalidomide+dex.
Conditions
Conditions (1)
Free-text conditions as registered, with the CancerIndex entity they were reconciled to and the match type.
| Condition (as posted) | Mapped entity | Match | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Multiple Myeloma | Multiple Myeloma | CURATED_EXACT | 0.92 |
Interventions
Interventions (3)
| Intervention | Type | Mapped drug | Match |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dexamethasone | Drug | Dexamethasone | ALIAS |
| Melflufen | Drug | Melphalan Flufenamide | ALIAS |
| Pomalidomide | Drug | Pomalidomide | ALIAS |
Design
Arms and outcomes
Arms (2)
- type
- EXPERIMENTAL
- label
- Arm A: Melflufen+Dexamethasone
- description
- Melflufen 40 mg i.v. on Day 1 and dexamethasone 40 mg (20 mg for patients ≥ 75 years of age) on Days 1, 8, 15 and 22 of each 28-day cycle. Patients were to be treated until confirmed progression, unacceptable toxicity, or the patient or investigator decided it was not in the patient's best interest to continue.
- interventionNames
- Drug: Melflufen
- Drug: Dexamethasone
- type
- ACTIVE_COMPARATOR
- label
- Arm B: Pomalidomide+Dexamethasone
- description
- Pomalidomide 4 mg orally daily on Days 1 to 21 and dexamethasone 40 mg (20 mg for patients ≥ 75 years of age) on Days 1, 8, 15 and 22 of each 28-day cycle. Patients were to be treated until confirmed progression, unacceptable toxicity, or the patient or investigator decided it was not in the patient's best interest to continue.
- interventionNames
- Drug: Pomalidomide
- Drug: Dexamethasone
Primary outcomes (1)
Eligibility
Eligibility (as posted)
- Sex
- All
- Minimum age
- 18 Years
Show eligibility criteria text
Inclusion Criteria:
1. Male or female, age 18 years or older
2. A prior diagnosis of multiple myeloma with documented disease progression requiring further treatment at time of screening
3. Measurable disease defined as any of the following:
* Serum monoclonal protein ≥ 0.5 g/dL by protein electrophoresis.
* ≥ 200 mg/24 hours of monoclonal protein in the urine on 24-hour electrophoresis
* Serum free light chain ≥ 10 mg/dL AND abnormal serum kappa to lambda free light chain ratio
4. Received 2-4 prior lines of therapy, including lenalidomide and a PI, either sequential or in the same line, and is refractory (relapsed and refractory or refractory) to both the last line of therapy and to lenalidomide (≥ 10 mg) administered within 18 months prior to randomization. Refractory to lenalidomide is defined as progression while on lenalidomide therapy or within 60 days of last dose, following at least 2 cycles of lenalidomide with at least 14 doses of lenalidomide per cycle.
5. Life expectancy of ≥ 6 months
6. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status ≤ 2.
7. Females of child bearing potential (FCBP) must have a negative serum or urine pregnancy test prior to start of treatment. Participants must agree to ongoing pregnancy testing. All patients must be willing to comply with all requirements of the USA pomalidomide Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) program or the pomalidomide Pregnancy Prevention Plan (PPP).
8. Ability to understand the purpose and risks of the study and provide signed and dated informed consent.
9. 12-lead Electrocardiogram (ECG) with QT interval calculated by Fridericia Formula (QTcF) interval of ≤ 470 msec Fridericia Formula.
10. The following laboratory results must be met during screening and also immediately before study drug administration on Cycle 1 Day 1:
* Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) ≥ 1,000 cells/mm\^3 (1.0 x 10\^9/L)
* Platelet count ≥ 75,000 cells/mm\^3 (75 x 10\^9/L)
* Hemoglobin ≥ 8.0 g/dl
* Total Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 x upper limit of normal (ULN), or patients diagnosed with Gilberts syndrome, that have been reviewed and approved by the medical monitor.
* Aspartate transaminase (AST /SGOT) and alanine transaminase (ALT/SGPT) ≤ 3.0 x ULN.
* Renal function: Estimated creatinine clearance by Cockcroft-Gault formula ≥ 45 mL/min.
11. Must be able to take antithrombotic prophylaxis.
12. Must have, or be willing to have an acceptable central catheter. (Port a cath, peripherally inserted central catheter \[PICC-line\], or central venous catheter) (Insertion only required if randomized to Arm A).
Exclusion Criteria:
1. Primary refractory disease (i.e. never responded (≥ MR) to any prior therapy)
2. Evidence of mucosal or internal bleeding or platelet transfusion refractory
3. Any medical conditions that, in the Investigator's opinion, would impose excessive risk to the patient or would adversely affect his/her participating in this study.
4. Prior exposure to pomalidomide
5. Known intolerance to IMiDs.
6. Known active infection requiring parenteral or oral anti-infective treatment within 14 days of randomization.
7. Other malignancy diagnosed or requiring treatment within the past 3 years with the exception of adequately treated basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell skin cancer, carcinoma in-situ of the cervix or breast or very low and low risk prostate cancer in active surveillance.
8. Pregnant or breast-feeding females
9. Serious psychiatric illness, active alcoholism, or drug addiction that may hinder or confuse compliance or follow-up evaluation
10. Known human immunodeficiency virus or active hepatitis C viral infection
11. Active hepatitis B viral infection (defined as HBsAg+).
* Patients with prior hepatitis B vaccine are permitted (defined as HBsAg-, Anti-HBs+, Anti-HBc-).
* Non-active hepatitis B (HBsAg-, Anti-HBs+, Anti-HBc+) may be enrolled at the discretion of the investigator after consideration of risk of reactivation.
12. Concurrent symptomatic amyloidosis or plasma cell leukemia
13. POEMS syndrome
14. Previous cytotoxic therapies, including cytotoxic investigational agents, for multiple myeloma within 3 weeks (6 weeks for nitrosoureas) prior to randomization. IMiDs, PIs and or corticosteroids within 2 weeks prior to randomization. Other investigational therapies and monoclonal antibodies within 4 weeks of randomization. Prednisone up to but no more than 10 mg orally q.d. or its equivalent for symptom management of comorbid conditions is permitted but dose should be stable for at least 7 days prior to randomization
15. Residual side effects to previous therapy \> grade 1 prior to randomization (Alopecia any grade and/or neuropathy grade 2 without pain are permitted)
16. Prior peripheral stem cell transplant within 12 weeks of randomization
17. Prior allogeneic stem cell transplantation with active graft-versus-host-disease.
18. Prior major surgical procedure or radiation therapy within 4 weeks of the randomization
19. Known intolerance to steroid therapyReferences
Publications (4)
- DERIVEDAcs K, Miettinen JJ, Sergeev P, Heckel T, Diao Y, Witt-Mulder K, Thureson M, Bischler T, Huppunen ME, Suvela M, Obermuller J, Munawar U, Slipicevic A, Bargou RC, Lehmann F, Gelius SS, Norin S, Schjesvold F, Sonneveld P, Stuhmer T, Heckman CA. Efficacy of melflufen in multiple myeloma with mutated or deleted TP53. Exp Hematol Oncol. 2025 Dec 23;14(1):138. doi: 10.1186/s40164-025-00729-1. PMID 41437395
- DERIVEDSchjesvold FH, Ludwig H, Delimpasi S, Robak P, Coriu D, Tomczak W, Pour L, Spicka I, Dimopoulos MA, Masszi T, Chernova NG, Sandberg A, Thuresson M, Norin S, Bakker NA, Mateos MV, Richardson PG, Sonneveld P. Health-related quality of life in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma treated with melflufen and dexamethasone: analyses from the phase III OCEAN study. Haematologica. 2024 Jul 1;109(7):2331-2336. doi: 10.3324/haematol.2023.284635. No abstract available. PMID 38426292
- DERIVEDSonneveld P, Richardson PG, Ludwig H, Dimopoulos MA, Schjesvold FH, Hajek R, Abdulhaq H, Thuresson M, Norin S, Bakker NA, Mateos MV. Benefit Versus Risk Assessment of Melflufen and Dexamethasone in Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma: Analyses From Longer Follow-up of the OCEAN and HORIZON Studies. Clin Lymphoma Myeloma Leuk. 2023 Sep;23(9):687-696. doi: 10.1016/j.clml.2023.05.004. Epub 2023 May 6. PMID 37355418
- DERIVEDSchjesvold FH, Dimopoulos MA, Delimpasi S, Robak P, Coriu D, Legiec W, Pour L, Spicka I, Masszi T, Doronin V, Minarik J, Salogub G, Alekseeva Y, Lazzaro A, Maisnar V, Mikala G, Rosinol L, Liberati AM, Symeonidis A, Moody V, Thuresson M, Byrne C, Harmenberg J, Bakker NA, Hajek R, Mateos MV, Richardson PG, Sonneveld P; OCEAN (OP-103) Investigators. Melflufen or pomalidomide plus dexamethasone for patients with multiple myeloma refractory to lenalidomide (OCEAN): a randomised, head-to-head, open-label, phase 3 study. Lancet Haematol. 2022 Feb;9(2):e98-e110. doi: 10.1016/S2352-3026(21)00381-1. Epub 2022 Jan 12. PMID 35032434