MRD Negativity With Tec-Dara and Tal-Dara and Its Impact on Multiple Myeloma Outcomes

Ralph V. Boccia, MD, FACP, founder of The Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders, clinical associate professor at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, and medical director of the International Oncology Network Clinical Research Program, discussed minimal residual disease (MRD) negativity with teclistamab-tcyv (Tecvayli) plus daratumumab and hyaluronidase-fihj (Darzalex Faspro) and with talquetamab-tgvs (Talvey) plus daratumumab (in multiple myeloma. Teclistamab/daratumumab was evaluated in patients with 1 to 3 prior lines of therapy in the phase 3 MajesTEC-3 trial (NCT05083169),¹ whereas talquetamab/daratumumab was studied in a more heavily pretreated population in the phase 1b TRIMM-2 trial (NCT04108195).²

Boccia cautioned that differences in these populations make a direct comparison unfair, though he described both regimens as extraordinarily effective, with similar response rates and distinct adverse event profiles. He also explained how sustained MRD negativity has become a hallmark of clinical trials and is shaping standard-of-care practice, noting that deeper responses translate into longer progression-free survival, even among patients with later-stage disease.

Transcript:

The [teclistamab/daratumumab] and [talquetamab/daratumumab] data look relatively similar.^1,2 The [teclistamab/daratumumab] data were in a slightly earlier population of patients compared with those who got [talquetamab/daratumumab], so it’s a little unfair to compare the two. I would say those are 2 extraordinarily effective agents, and the response rates are very similar, but the adverse event profiles are very different.

In the research and academic community, it has become a hallmark of all of our clinical trials, but it has also shaped how we treat patients who aren’t on clinical trials and are receiving standard of care. We’ve learned over the last 15 years that the deeper the response, the longer the progression-free survival. Typically, if you get patients into a relatively deep response, which in the old days meant a very good partial response or better and today means a sustained MRD-negative state, then we see progression-free survivals in late-stage patients as long as those of some earlier-stage patients with previous therapies.

References

1. Costa LJ, Bahlis NJ, Perrot A, et al. Teclistamab plus daratumumab in relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma. N Engl J Med. 2026;394(8):739-752. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa2514663

2. Chari A, van de Donk NWCJ, Dholaria B, et al. Talquetamab plus daratumumab for the treatment of relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma in the TRIMM-2 study. Blood. 2025;146(24):2902-2913. doi:10.1182/blood.2025029360