Multiple Myeloma Drugs

Multiple myeloma treatment options include many different medications and therapies. Learn more about medications for multiple myeloma according to their drug class.

What Drugs Are Used to Treat Multiple Myeloma?

Multiple myeloma drugs fall into various drug classes, including proteasome inhibitors (PIs), immunomodulatory drugs (IMiDs), alkylating agents, corticosteroids, bisphosphonates, and monoclonal antibodies (MAbs).

Proteasome Inhibitors (PIs)

Proteasome inhibitors are medications that disrupt the function of proteasomes. Proteasomes are large protein structures responsible for breaking down other proteins within cells. Popular proteasome inhibitors include:

Ninlaro (ixazomib) | I 

Ninlaro®, also known as ixazomib, was approved by the FDA in 2015 to treat adult patients with myeloma who have received at least one prior therapy. It is often used in combination with lenalidomide and dexamethasone, a three-drug combination known as “IRd.” Ninlaro is the third proteasome inhibitor approved by the FDA since 2003 and the first oral proteasome inhibitor.

Kyprolis (carfilzomib) | cfz, car, K

Kyprolis®, also known as carfilzomib, is a proteasome inhibitor approved by the FDA in 2012 for treating relapsed or refractory myeloma. Kyprolis blocks the activity of proteasomes, which are important for maintaining balance within the cell and regulating cell growth. It is administered intravenously.

Velcade (bortezomib) | btz, bor, V

Velcade® is an anti-cancer agent that can be injected intravenously or subcutaneously. It is used to treat newly diagnosed and relapsed or refractory myeloma.

Immunomodulators (IMiDs)

IMiDs are compounds that are structurally and functionally similar to thalidomide. They represent a promising new class of immunomodulatory agents being explored for the treatment of cancerous conditions, such as myeloma. Common IMiDs are:

Pomalyst (pomalidomide) | pom, P

Pomalyst®, or pomalidomide, is an oral treatment for multiple myeloma. It is typically used in combination with dexamethasone for patients who have received at least two prior therapies, including lenalidomide and a proteasome inhibitor.

Revlimid(lenalidomide) | len, R

Revlimid® is an immunomodulatory drug and the first oral medication developed to treat multiple myeloma. It is used in newly diagnosed cases, as maintenance therapy, and in relapsed or refractory settings.

Thalomid (thalidomide) | thal, T

Thalomid®, also known as thalidomide, is an oral immunomodulatory drug with anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer activities.

Monoclonal Antibodies (mAbs)

Monoclonal antibodies target specific proteins on the surface of myeloma cells, helping the immune system recognize and destroy them. Examples of monoclonal antibodies used in myeloma treatment include:

Darzalex (daratumumab) | dara

Darzalex® or daratumumab is the first FDA-approved monoclonal antibody that targets the CD38 protein on the surface of myeloma cells. It is approved for adult patients with myeloma in multiple disease settings, from the newly diagnosed to the relapsed/refractory. Darzalex is administered intravenously.

Darzalex Faspro® (daratumumab and hyaluronidase-fihj)

Darzalex Faspro®, or daratumumab and hyaluronidase-fihj, is a formulation of Darzalex® that is given as an abdominal injection under the skin. It is approved for adult patients with multiple myeloma in multiple disease settings, from the newly diagnosed to the relapsed/refractory. As of November 6, 2025, the FDA, according to its press release, "approved daratumumab and hyaluronidase-fihj (Darzalex Faspro, Janssen Biotech, Inc.) for adults with high-risk smoldering multiple myeloma (SMM)."

Emplicti (elotuzumab) | elo, E

Empliciti®, also known as elotuzumab, is a monoclonal antibody administered intravenously. It is used to treat multiple myeloma in combination with lenalidomide and dexamethasone in people who have received one to three prior treatments. It is also approved for use with pomalidomide and dexamethasone in patients who have received at least two prior therapies, including Revlimid and a proteasome inhibitor.

Sarclisa (isatuximab-irfc)

Sarclisa® is an anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody. It is given as an intravenous infusion, initially weekly for four weeks, then every two weeks. It is administered as part of a three-drug regimen with pomalidomide and dexamethasone. Sarclisa is also approved for use with bortezomib, lenalidomide, and dexamethasone to treat newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients who are not eligible for autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT).

Bispecific Antibodies

Bispecific antibodies are a type of immunotherapy that binds to two different targets, bringing myeloma cells and immune cells together to facilitate the destruction of the cancer cells. Examples include:

Elrexfio (elranatamab-bcmm)

Elrexfio®, or elranatamab-bcmm, is a B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA)-CD3-directed bispecific antibody immunotherapy. The FDA granted accelerated approval of Elrexfio in August 2023 for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) who have received at least four prior lines of therapy, including a proteasome inhibitor, an immunomodulatory agent, and an anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody.

Lynozyfic (linvoseltamab-gcpt)

Lynozyfic™ (also known as linvoseltamab-gcpt , the generic drug name) is a B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA)-CD3-directed bispecific antibody immunotherapy. In July 2025, the U.S. FDA granted accelerated approval of Lynozyfic for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) who have received at least four prior lines of therapy, including a proteasome inhibitor, an immunomodulatory agent, and an anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody.  

Talvey (talquetamab)

Talvey®, also known as talquetamab, is indicated for adult patients with relapsed or refractory myeloma who have had at least four prior lines of therapy, including a proteasome inhibitor, an immunomodulatory agent, and an anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody. Talvey is a bispecific monoclonal antibody with a novel target, GPRC5D.

Tecvayli (teclistimab-cqyv)

Tecvayli®, or teclistamab-cqyv, is indicated for adult patients with relapsed or refractory myeloma who have had at least four prior lines of therapy, including a proteasome inhibitor, an immunomodulatory agent, and an anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody. Tecvayli is a bispecific B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA)-directed CD3 T-cell engager. 

CAR T-Cell Therapies

CAR T-cell therapies are a type of personalized immunotherapy where a patient's own T cells are modified to target and kill myeloma cells. Examples of CAR T-cell therapies include:

Abecma (idecabtagene vicleucel) | ide-cel

Abecma®, under the generic name idecabtagene vicleucel, is a personalized immune cell therapy delivered as a one-time infusion. It is approved for use in adult patients with relapsed and refractory myeloma who have had two or more prior lines of therapy including an immunomodulatory agent, a proteasome inhibitor, and an anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody.

Carvykti (ciltacabtagene autoleucel) | cilta-cel

Carvykti®, or ciltacabtagene autoleucel, is a personalized immune cell therapy delivered as a one-time infusion. It is approved for use in adult patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma who have received at least 1 prior line of therapy, including an immunomodulatory agent and a proteasome inhibitor, and are refractory to lenalidomide. Carvykti is the first and only B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA)-targeted therapy approved for the treatment of patients with myeloma as early as first relapse.

Antibody-Drug Conjugates

Antibody-drug conjugates combine the targeting ability of an antibody with the cell-killing power of a chemotherapy drug, delivering the drug directly to the myeloma cells. An example of an antibody-drug conjugate is:

Blenrep (belantamab mafodotin-blmf) | bela, belamaf

On Thursday, October 23, 2025, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced its approval of Blenrep® (belantamab mafodotin-blmf)— "a B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA)-directed antibody and microtubule inhibitor conjugate — with bortezomib and dexamethasone for adults with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma who have received at least two prior lines of therapy, including a proteasome inhibitor and an immunomodulatory agent."

The approval is supported by data from the phase III DREAMM-7 trial. Visit this article in the IMF Newsroom to learn more.

As of April 2025, according to this press release from GSK, Blenrep was approved in the UK “for the treatment of adults with multiple myeloma in combination with bortezomib plus dexamethasone (BVd) in patients who have received at least one prior therapy, and in combination with pomalidomide plus dexamethasone (BPd) in patients who have received at least one prior therapy including lenalidomide."  

Also in 2025, this press release from GSK announced that Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare has approved Blenrep (belantamab mafodotin) combinations for relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) in Japan.

Nuclear Export Inhibitor

Nuclear export inhibitors work by blocking the transport of proteins out of the cell nucleus, leading to cell death in myeloma cells. An example of a nuclear export inhibitor is:

Xpovio (selinexor)

Xpovio®, also known as selinexor, is a selective inhibitor of nuclear export (SINE) compound. In 2019, Xpovio became the first medication in this drug class to be approved by the FDA. Xpovio is used for the treatment of relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) in combination with dexamethasone or with bortezomib and dexamethasone. It is also listed in the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Guidelines for myeloma in combination with carfilzomib, pomalidomide, or daratumumab.

Alkylating Agents

Alkylating agents are chemotherapy drugs that damage the DNA of cancer cells, preventing them from growing and dividing. Examples of alkylating agents for myeloma include:

Melphalan (Alkeran, Alphalen) | mel, M

Melphalan, sold as Alkeran®, is a chemotherapy drug commonly used in treating multiple myeloma. In the U.S., melphalan is most commonly used as the conditioning agent in autologous stem cell transplants. It is given intravenously at a high dose to ablate the bone marrow, where myeloma grows, the day before the patient's own hematopoietic stem cells are given back to restore bone marrow function. It is also used, most commonly outside the U.S., as an oral agent to treat myeloma in combination with bortezomib and prednisone, and in combination with thalidomide and prednisone.

Cytoxan® (cyclophosphamide) | CTX, Cy, C

Cytoxan® or cyclophosphamide was first approved by the FDA in 1959 and is still widely used to treat multiple myeloma, as well as many other types of cancer and autoimmune diseases. As a first-line therapy, it is most commonly given orally in combination with bortezomib and dexamethasone. Cyclophosphamide is also given orally at relapse in combination with lenalidomide and dexamethasone or pomalidomide and dexamethasone. An intravenous cyclophosphamide infusion can also be used as part of the stem cell harvesting process in combination with colony-stimulating factors.

Corticosteroids

Corticosteroids are medications that suppress the immune system and reduce inflammation, often used in combination with other myeloma treatments. Corticosteroids used in myeloma treatment include:

Dexamethasone (Decadron) | D, d, dex, DXM

Dexamethasone, also called Decadron®, is one of the most frequently used medications in treating multiple myeloma.

Prednisone (Deltasone) | pred

Prednisone decreases your immune system's response to various diseases to reduce symptoms such as swelling and allergic-type reactions.

Medrol (methylprednisolone)

Medrol® or methylprednisolone is used to decrease your immune system's response to various diseases to reduce symptoms such as swelling, pain, and allergic-type reactions.

Bone-Modifying Agents

Bone-modifying agents help to strengthen bones and prevent fractures, which are common in myeloma patients. Examples include:

Xgeva, Prolia (denosumab)

Xgeva® and Prolia®, also known as denosumab, is a human monoclonal antibody for the treatment of osteoporosis, treatment-induced bone loss, metastases to bone, and giant cell tumor of bone.

Zometa  (zoledronic acid) | zol

Zoledronic acid, under the trade name Zometa®, is used with cancer chemotherapy to treat bone problems that may occur with multiple myeloma and other types of cancer that have spread to the bones.

Aredia® (pamidronate) | pmd

Aredia®, or pamidronate, is used to treat high blood calcium levels and certain bone problems that may occur with some types of cancer.

CELMoDs

CELMoDs are a class of immunomodulatory drugs currently being investigated in clinical trials for treating myeloma. CELMoDs, iberdomide and mezigdomide, are in clinical trials. To learn more about these therapies, visit iberdomide and mezigdomide, and download the IMF publication Understanding CELMoDs.

Guide to Myeloma Drug Names

Multiple myeloma treatments have evolved over the last thirty years. Since 2009 alone, more than a dozen new treatments have been developed for the disease. This table provides a comprehensive list of many of the drugs that have been used to treat myeloma over time. You may want to reference this list if you are a patient researching clinical trials or a myeloma researcher.

To download a pdf of this chart, select the down arrow in the bottom right-hand corner of the Issuu window above.

Classes of Key Multiple Myeloma Drugs as of March 2026

The table provided below can be downloaded and used as a quick reference. Please note this table is a guide to key multiple myeloma therapies, but it is not an exhaustive list. 

To download a pdf of this chart, select the down arrow in the bottom right-hand corner of the Issuu window above.

Sign up for Clinical Trials

New myeloma therapies are often available through clinical trials. Contribute to the future of myeloma care and find trials that may be right for you by signing up for the IMF's clinical trials matching engine.