This booklet discusses Blenrep® (belantamab mafodotin-blmf), an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) that is a combination of a monoclonal antibody and a chemotherapy agent. Blenrep is the first and only medication in the ADC drug class that has been approved by the FDA to treat myeloma. Blenrep is unique because belantamab activates the immune system and attaches to the myeloma cell to deliver the toxic agent that kills the cancer.
BCMA is involved in myeloma cell growth and survival, and is found on the surface of cells in all patients with myeloma. When the monoclonal antibody portion of Blenrep attaches to BCMA, Blenrep enters the cell and releases MMAF, which leads to cell death. The antibody part of the ADC attracts your body’s own immune system to recognize the cancerous myeloma cells and attack them.
