Media Spotlight | Suzhou Innovation Makes Relapse of Multiple Myeloma No Longer “Incurable”

Multiple myeloma is the second most common hematologic malignancy, with approximately 1.6 new cases per 100,000 people in China, and it predominantly affects older adults. Data show that among individuals aged 60 and above, newly diagnosed malignant tumors account for 60.6% of all new cancer cases in the population. Every March is International Myeloma Awareness Month. According to reports, the innovative anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody drug elotuzumab injection, used to treat multiple myeloma, was included in the National Medical Insurance Reimbursement List for the first time in 2025. Meanwhile, several biopharmaceutical companies in Suzhou are actively expanding their presence in this therapeutic area, continuously advancing the research, development, and commercialization of related drugs. 

Nearly 90% of patients are diagnosed at an advanced stage; seizing the opportunity for first-line treatment is crucial. 

“Approximately 90% of patients in China are diagnosed at an advanced stage of multiple myeloma. On the one hand, the disease originates in the bone marrow, with lesions that are deeply concealed and difficult to detect through external palpation or routine self-examination in the early stages, making early identification challenging. On the other hand, the typical symptoms of multiple myeloma often do not point specifically to the hematologic system; patients frequently present to orthopedics for pathological fractures, to nephrology for renal impairment, or to pulmonology or infectious diseases for recurrent infections, with fewer than half initially seeking care in hematology due to anemia. These factors contribute to delayed diagnosis and a high rate of misdiagnosis among patients with multiple myeloma,” said Fu Chengcheng, Chief Physician of the Department of Hematology at the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University. 

According to the briefing, patients with multiple myeloma face a dual challenge: frequent disease relapses and the emergence of drug resistance and refractoriness after relapse. Clinically, the more often a patient relapses, the greater the therapeutic difficulty, and the shorter the progression-free survival and post-relapse survival. Once the disease enters the relapse phase, patients often experience repeated relapses and a progressively shorter duration of disease control. Therefore, for patients with multiple myeloma, extending the period of disease control hinges on two critical milestones: first, initial treatment, which represents the “golden window” throughout the entire disease course and directly determines both progression-free survival and overall survival; with modern targeted therapies and immunotherapies, symptom control can be maintained for 8 to 15 years. Second, the pivotal moment of the first relapse, which is the only opportunity during the cycle of recurrent relapses to achieve deep remission and attain long-term disease control. 

In recent years, a growing array of innovative drugs and treatment regimens—each with distinct mechanisms of action and targeting different molecular targets—has expanded the clinical options for treating multiple myeloma. Meanwhile, national health insurance policies have provided crucial support for promoting equitable access to pharmaceutical innovations and delivering tangible benefits to patients. “For example, elotuzumab, which has been included in the national reimbursement scheme, can be used in the treatment of newly diagnosed patients who are not suitable for autologous stem-cell transplantation. When combined with the VRd regimen as part of a four-drug therapy that targets CD38, this approach can extend progression-free survival to an expected 90 months (approximately 7.5 years), potentially enabling patients to achieve minimal residual disease–negative, deep remission—meaning no detectable residual cancer cells—and thereby improving overall survival outcomes,” said Fu Chengcheng. 

Breaking the Recurrence Dilemma: Suzhou Pharma Companies Diversify Their Strategic Footprint 

The issue of relapse in multiple myeloma has long posed a challenge to clinical practice. Much like pest control: even after what appears to be complete eradication, infestations can re-emerge. In Suzhou, companies such as Innovent Biologics and Shengshi Taikang Biopharmaceutical Technology (Suzhou) Co., Ltd. are actively making strategic investments in this area. 

Notably, IBI3003, a product of Innovent Biologics, is a “super” anti-cancer antibody that simultaneously targets three distinct antigens—GPRC5D, BCMA, and CD3—making it a tri-specific antibody. This innovative therapy holds promise as a new treatment option for patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma who have previously failed multiple lines of therapy. To date, IBI3003 has been granted FDA Fast Track designation in the United States and is currently undergoing Phase I/II clinical trials in China and Australia, with U.S. clinical trials set to commence shortly. According to reports, this agent can concurrently recognize two myeloma-specific targets while activating human T cells to precisely kill tumor cells, thereby exhibiting enhanced anti-tumor efficacy and a reduced risk of immune evasion. To put it vividly, IBI3003 functions like an intelligent missile equipped with “navigation, targeting, and killer-recruitment” capabilities: it firmly binds to myeloma cells via BCMA and GPRC5D, while simultaneously engaging T cells through CD3, forcibly bringing them into close contact for direct cytotoxic attack. This results in more precise recognition, more potent killing, and a significantly lower likelihood of tumors evading the immune response through mutation.

Shengshi Taikе, on the other hand, has taken a different approach by focusing on critical aspects of multiple myeloma treatment and independently developing CGT-1881, a Class 1 innovative drug. CGT-1881 is a next-generation CXCR4 antagonist that exhibits high efficacy and high selectivity. Hematopoietic stem cell mobilization specifically indicated for patients with multiple myeloma or non-Hodgkin lymphoma, facilitating the collection of hematopoietic stem cells and subsequent autologous transplantation. As the only domestically developed, original small-molecule oral CXCR4 antagonist, Compared with currently marketed injectable drugs in the same class, CGT-1881 offers greater convenience of use and improved patient compliance, effectively addressing the inconveniences associated with conventional injectable administration. At present, the project has essentially completed Phase I clinical trials. Data indicate that it has strong clinical evidence for use in stem cell mobilization and in the treatment of WHIM syndrome, a congenital primary immunodeficiency disorder. At the same time, this marks Shengshi Taikе’s first new-drug program to be simultaneously filed in both China and the United States, with broad prospects for application and significant market value in areas such as the treatment of malignant tumors, stem-cell mobilization, immune disorders, and genetic diseases. 

In addition, HePo Pharmaceuticals’ core pipeline product, HBM7020—a BCMA/CD3 bispecific antibody—is an innovative immunotherapy for multiple myeloma. By simultaneously targeting both BCMA and CD3, it induces T-cell–mediated killing of myeloma cells while reducing the risk of cytokine release syndrome (CRS). According to reports, the company has already entered into collaborations with global pharmaceutical giants to accelerate its commercialization efforts. (Reported by Su Bao Integrated Media Reporter Dong Jie and Correspondent Yuan Xuan)