Iberdomide Combination Study Results for Transplant Ineligible Myeloma Patients

Iberdomide Combination Shows Strong Results in Older Adults with Newly Diagnosed Myeloma

Some people with multiple myeloma are not eligible for stem cell transplants. Many are older adults, who may not be able to receive a transplant because of their overall health. For these people, choosing the best first treatment option can be a key decision.  A recent clinical trial studied the combination of iberdomide, bortezomib (Velcade, Takeda), and dexamethasone. The results were shared at the 2025 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting.

What is iberdomide?

Iberdomide is a type of therapy called a CELMoD agent.  It works by supporting the immune system while also limiting the growth of myeloma cells. Iberdomide is currently being tested in different combinations to treat myeloma. Experimental models have shown that iberdomide is a stronger anti-cancer drug compared to lenalidomide, which is the current standard of care treatment for people with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma that cannot be treated with a stem cell transplant. An ongoing clinical trial is currently studying the combination of iberdomide, bortezomib, and dexamethasone as another option for this group. 

Who participated in the study?

The study included 18 people with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma who couldn’t undergo transplantation. Most were older adults, with a median age of 77.5 years. Over 60% had high-risk genetic features, which often represent a more difficult-to-manage myeloma. 

All patients responded to treatment

The overall response rate was 100%. This means that the treatment produced a response for every participant. Half reached a “stringent complete response,” (SCR). SCR is considered better than a complete response, because it means there are no abnormal cells in the bone marrow. Another 25% reached a complete response, and others had very good partial or partial responses. The median time to see a response was just under one month.

Half of the evaluated patients tested negative for minimal residual disease (MRD). MRD measures extremely low levels of myeloma cells using sensitive lab tools. All patients who were MRD-negative had also achieved a complete response or better.

Treatment side effects were manageable

Most participants experienced side effects, especially in the first eight treatment cycles. The most common were:

• Infections like pneumonia and COVID-19 (seen in half of patients)
• Low white blood cell counts (neutropenia) in one third of patients
• Peripheral neuropathy, which causes tingling or numbness in the hands or feet was present in two patients.
• Nearly two-thirds of participants were still on treatment after more than two years of follow-up.

Importantly, these side effects were manageable. Adjustments such as lowering the iberdomide dose or using supportive care like growth factor medications helped patients continue therapy.

Long-term outcomes are encouraging

With a median follow-up of 25 months, the quality and depth of responses continued to improve over time for this group. The percentage of people with complete responses rose from 56.3% to 75.0% during extended treatment. Only one person experienced disease progression, and one death occurred during the study.

Summary 

The IberVd combination of iberdomide, bortezomib and dexamethasone has shown strong and lasting responses in a small group of older adults with newly diagnosed myeloma who are not eligible for transplant. While side effects were common, they were manageable with dose changes and supportive care. All patients in the study responded, with many reaching the deepest levels of remission measured by current tools.

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Source: 

• Iberdomide, bortezomib, and dexamethasone (IberVd) in transplant-ineligible (TNE) newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (NDMM): Updated results from the CC-220-MM-001 trial.