The Global Myeloma Action Network (GMAN) Summit
A summary report from the 2024 GMAN Annual Meeting, which took place in person from June 7-9, 2024, in Madrid, Spain.
The Global Myeloma Action Network (GMAN) is a coalition of myeloma patient organizations from around the world. We share a deep commitment to the mission of improving the lives of myeloma patients, enhancing the capabilities of patient advocacy groups, building the capacity of local myeloma organizations, increasing global awareness of myeloma, and improving access to timely diagnosis and critical medicines.
GMAN collaborates with patients, care partners, policymakers, industry, doctors who are key opinion leaders (KOLs) in myeloma, and other stakeholders. While each GMAN member organization pursues its own vision, GMAN works to share best practices and address mutual areas of concern.
The 2024 GMAN Annual Summit was held from June 7 through June 9 in Madrid, Spain. The event brought together 40 advocacy leaders from 25 countries and 4 continents, facilitating the exchange of information, celebrating achievements, and coordi¬nating efforts to advance our mission.
GMAN Summit Participants Attend Workshops and Network
Summit participants engaged in a series of workshops, panel discussions, and networking sessions designed to foster collaboration. Key topics included advancements in myeloma research, strategies for advocacy and policy change, and innovative approaches to patient support and education.
Expert speakers included Dr. Joseph Mikhael (IMF Chief Medical Officer), who gave an overview of myeloma research in 2024, and Dr. Brian Durie (former IMF Chief Scientific Officer), who shared an update on the IMF’s research priorities. Another highlight was a panel of GMAN members who shared their firsthand accounts of successfully gaining access to essential myeloma ther¬apies by using innovative strategies and collaboration, including public-private partnerships, community-based initiatives, and advocacy-driven policy changes that have removed or circum¬vented barriers to access.
The summit also featured dedicated capacity-building breakout sessions focusing on strategies to enhance the operational effectiveness of member organizations. The breakout sessions were designed to foster an environment of growth, ensuring that all member organizations, regardless of their size or resources, could strengthen their capabilities and amplify their impact in their respective regions.
Summit participants had the opportunity to engage in group discussions and one-on-one debriefs with GMAN members, enabling them to learn directly from other advocates who have successfully navigated similar challenges. One significant component was a session focused on engaging with the European Medicines Agency (EMA) regarding the approval of MRD as a surrogate endpoint in European clinical trials. Dr. Durie, Dr. Mimi Choon-Quinones (IMF Senior VP, Global Advocacy, Access, Policy & Research), and Drs. Anja Seckinger and Dr. Dirk Hose (both of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium) explained how utilizing MRD can accelerate the approval of new myeloma therapies in Europe. This session underscored the importance of regulatory engagement in facilitating faster access to innovative treatments for myeloma patients.
Susie Novis Durie Grants
A major highlight of the summit was the celebration of significant milestones achieved by member organizations over the past year as supported by the GMAN Susie Novis Durie Grants program. 2023 grant recipients included FAM (Argentina) for the Living Well With Myeloma radio program, APCL (Portugal) for podcasts and videos with patients, KBDCA (South Korea) for peripheral neuropathy self-care kits, and Kanser Savaşçilari (Turkey) for ser¬vices provided to myeloma patients affected by the earthquake. These achievements underscore the collective power of the global myeloma community.
2024 recipients include Mijelom CRO (Croatia), Dansk Myelomatose Forening (Denmark), AMEN Organization (Israel), and Myeloma Euronet Romania (Romania). Their GMAN peers look forward to hearing about their accomplishments at the 2025 GMAN Summit.
GMAN Global Awareness Plan for 2025 Myeloma Action Month
Looking ahead, GMAN outlined its strategic goals for the coming year, including a Global Awareness Plan for the 2025 Myeloma Action Month (MAM), quarterly Capacity Building workshops focused on fundraising, strategic planning and organizational development, along with greater collaboration with pharmaceuti¬cal industry partners focused on access to critical therapies
By building on the momentum generated at the summit, GMAN aims to drive meaningful progress in the fight against multiple myeloma and improve outcomes for patients around the world.