Key Developments in Multiple Myeloma and Adjusting to COVID-19

Physicians are adapting to new treatment protocols and a different workload as the Covid 19 pandemic continues. On the 24nd of September SurvivorNet will hold a collaborative conversation with opinion leaders in the field to talk new approvals and the new normal.

This session qualifies for CME credit. Click here to watch the event recording and get CME credit.

Talking Points:

Updates
We’ll be discussing new announcements from ESMO, as well as recent approvals and trials pertaining to multiple myeloma treatment that physicians should be aware of. These may well include the new approvals for the use of subcutaneous daratumumab, Blenrep, and carfilzomib with daratumumab and dexamethasone.

Racial Disparities
Multiple myeloma disproportionately affects African Americans, but, given treatment, their survival rate is the same. The problem is access to care – African Americans often don’t enjoy the same access to care as other racial groups for a variety of socio economic reasons, meaning they have a disproportionately lower survival rate of multiple myeloma. Physicians can help with this by being aware of this, and asking African Americans about a history of multiple myeloma in their family, and screening for MGUS or smoldering multiple myeloma if patents are at risk. Patients can also be encouraged to sign up to P Crowd – a crowd sourcing initiative that aims to understand why this racial disparity exists, with the aim of closing this gap.

Mental Health
Physicians have had to adjust to a lot over the last few months. Hospital budgets are being slashed, funding for clinical trials and research is going away, workloads are increasing and changing….it’s a very unsettling time. Doctors suffer disproportionately from burnout and depression at the best of times, but now, anecdotally, more than ever. Our panel will give advice to colleagues on how to cope with this.

Disclosures Declaration

• Sagar Lonial, MD
  Research Support: Takeda, Janssen, BMS, Celgene
  Consulting: Amgen, Takeda, Janssen, BMS, Celgene, GSK, Abbvie, Genentech
  Stock: Board of Directors with stock at TF Therapeutics
• Nina Shah, MD
  Research Support: Celgene/BMS, Janssen, Bluebird Bio, Sutro Biopharma, Teneobio, Poseida, Nektar
  Consulting: GSK, Amgen, Indapta Therapeutics, Sanofi, BMS, CareDx, Kite, Karyophram
• Natalie Callandar, MD
  Research: Cellectar
• Staff at SurvivorNet and CME Outfitters have no financial relationships to disclose.