Oncopeptides AB (publ) announced that new scientific data on melflufen, branded in Europe as Pepaxti, has been accepted at the 10th annual World Congress on Cont Cont Cont Controversies in Multiple Myeloma (COMy), to be held on May 23-26. The study, published by a team from institutions across Europe, including the University of Wurzburg and the Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland, focuses on the effectiveness of melflufen and shows promising results for the drug when treating patients with a particularly challenging form of multiple myeloma. The study will be presented to congress attendees through an online oral presentation on May 26.

The presentation will be given by Caroline Heckman, from the Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland. Multiple myeloma can be especially difficult to treat in patients who have specific genetic mutations or deletions, such as del(17p) and/or mutations in the TP53 gene. These genetic characteristics are associated with a poorer prognosis and shorter survival rates.

The research findings indicate that melflufen is more effective than traditional alkylating agents causing DNA damage and promoting the death of cancer cells lacking a functional so-called p53 protein, which is a common issue in high-risk multiple myeloma cases. The study also highlighted significant changes in gene expression that enhance the drug's impact on cancer cells. Furthermore, patients with the del(17p) genetic abnormality treated with melflufen and dexamethasone showed a longer progression-free survival and higher overall response rate compared to those treated with pomalidomide and dexamethasone in the OP-103 OCEAN trial.