April 14, 2025—The International Myeloma Foundation (IMF) is thrilled to share that Medical Student Scholar Tyra Grischke and her mentor Dr. Ben Derman recently published their research "Brain-to-vein and vein-to-vein times and outcomes in CAR T-cell therapy in myeloma" in Blood Cancer Journal. For the past two years, the IMF has selected medical students, many from historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs), for our 2024 Medical Student Scholars for Health Equity in Myeloma program. Paired with expert mentors, the students conduct research on health disparities in multiple myeloma. The initiative aims to foster a diverse future physician workforce dedicated to improving outcomes for African American myeloma patients.

Tyra Grischke and Dr. Derman's study looks at how long it takes for multiple myeloma (MM) patients to start CAR T-cell therapy after doctors request insurance approval. CAR T-cell therapy is a cutting-edge treatment that modifies a patient’s own immune cells to fight cancer. Two FDA-approved versions target a protein called BCMA. But delays in getting this therapy—either from waiting on insurance approval (called brain-to-vein time, or B2V) or in the manufacturing process (vein-to-vein time, or V2V)—can be dangerous for patients whose disease worsens quickly.

Researchers reviewed 64 MM patients treated at the University of Chicago and compared those with Medicare to those with private insurance. They found that patients with private insurance often had longer B2V delays because their coverage required special payment agreements called single case agreements (SCAs). Patients with B2V delays over 15 days were more likely to die before or shortly after getting CAR T therapy. However, overall survival and treatment success did not significantly differ between Medicare and privately insured patients.

The study concludes that while insurance type may affect how fast patients can start CAR T therapy, it didn’t strongly impact long-term outcomes. Still, the researchers stress the need to speed up the approval and treatment process to give all patients a better chance, especially those with fast-progressing disease. They also recommend improving insurance processes, treatment scheduling, and access to the therapy to reduce delays.

You can view the entire publication from the button below.