Al-Ola Abdallah, Director of Plasma Cell Disorders Care at The University of Kansas Health System and Chair of the US Myeloma Innovations Research Collaborative (USMIRC), shared on X:
” BCMA: The Unexpected Discovery in T-cell lymphoma to a myeloma Revolution A gene discovered while studying T-cell lymphoma became a target for three major treatment platforms in myeloma. Here’s the journey from a genetic clue to FDA approvals.
- 1992: The discovery Yacine Laâbi, Andréas Tsapis and colleagues at INSERM in Paris identified a new gene while investigating a lymphoma chromosomal translocation. Initially called BCM, it became BCMA: B-cell maturation antigen.
- From discovery to biology In 1995, researchers characterized BCMA protein in U266 myeloma cells. BAFF and APRIL were subsequently identified as its ligands. The question emerged: could this biology become a therapeutic opportunity?
- 2003–2004: A target takes shape Anne Novak, Diane Jelinek and colleagues at Mayo Clinic linked BCMA-related signaling to myeloma growth and survival. Antibody studies followed, showing that targeting BCMA could kill malignant plasma cells.
- 2013–2016: Engineering the immune system Carpenter, Kochenderfer and colleagues at NCI published the first anti-BCMA CAR T-cell constructs in 2013. First human results followed in 2015–2016: patients experienced myeloma remissions.
- The FDA approval era begins 2020: Blenrep – first BCMA-targeted therapy, an antibody–drug conjugate. 2021: Abecma-first myeloma CAR T-cell therapy. 2022: Carvykti – another BCMA CAR T-cell option. Decades of research reached clinical practice.
- Bispecific antibodies join the story These anti bodies connect CD3 on T cells with BCMA on myeloma cells.
FDA approvals:
- Tecvayli: 2022
- Elrexfio: 2023
- Lynozyfic: 2025
A new way to direct T cells against myeloma.
- Progress included a setback Blenrep’s original monotherapy approval was withdrawn in 2023 after its confirmatory trial missed the primary PFS endpoint. In October 2025, it returned with FDA approval alongside bortezomib + dexamethasone.
- BCMA treatment moves earlier 2024:
- Abecma: ≥2 prior lines
- Carvykti: ≥1 prior line, with lenalidomide-refractory disease March 2026:
- Tecvayli + daratumumab: ≥1 prior line Each indication has specific prior-treatment requirements.”
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