HealthTree Research: Patients Share their Experiences with Talquetamab Therapy

Talquetamab is a bispecific antibody therapy approved for patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma. It became relevant among myeloma therapies since it created deep and durable responses. 

Although much has been studied on talquetamab, less is known about how patients experience it. HealthTree Foundation’s research team partnerned with myeloma specialists such as Cesar Rodriguez to learn more on this subject. 

As a patient-focused and patient-centered foundation, HealthTree will share their study’s findings at the American Society of Hematology (ASH) conference this year, focusing on the experiences from the patient and physician perspectives that help people understand what to expect when starting talquetamab.

We had the privilege of interviewing one of the lead investigators, certified nurse practitioner, Beth Faiman who shared special insights of this study. 

How Did the HealthTree Study Fully Capture the Patient Experience?

All the people who participated were adults from the US, diagnosed with multiple myeloma, and who took talquetamab for at least 4 months, either in a clinical trial or commercial setting. The study had two qualitative components: 

1. Patients with documented use of talquetamab participated through HealthTree Cure Hub and took part in 2-hour, semi-structured virtual interviews conducted from February to April 2024. Here, they were asked to discuss their experiences 1-2 months before starting talquetamab and 4-5 months after beginning therapy. All participants discussed symptoms such as oral, skin-related, and nail-related symptoms, overall impact, and satisfaction.

2. HealthTree hosted a 2.5-hour roundtable in Chicago, IL, in May 2024, for patients and physicians to dialogue, review findings, and generate ideas for managing symptoms.

What are the Study Results? 

• A total of 12 people between the ages of 52-79 years participated in the interviews. 

• Seven patients received talquetamab in a clinical trial, and nine were still receiving it.

• The roundtable hosted three patients and three physicians.

Experiences With Talquetamab

In the interviews, patients reported high overall satisfaction while taking talquetamab, which was influenced by how effective the therapy was for them. All reported improvements in their myeloma, energy and strength, and decrease in fatigue. They also reported increased physical activities and the ability to work, volunteer, or engage in hobbies, confirming the importance of quality of life in a patient’s perception of medicine. Physicians noted they are also very satisfied with how talquetamab worked.

Experiences With Talquetamab Side Effects 

In the interviews there were common side effects reported: 

• All patients reported distorted taste/loss of taste and dry mouth with varying severity (typically starting within the first month of therapy). Five of the participants said their symptoms fully improved (three after 1 year of treatment, and two after stopping treatment).  4 of the participants experienced only a partial recovery of their taste senses.

• Ten of the fourteen people (71%) lost weight, but most of them maintained adequate nutrition.

• Patients and physicians suggested coping strategies, including diet modifications, use of strong flavors (e.g., spices, cinnamon), monitoring weight, prioritizing adequate calories, using mouthwashes/lozenges, drinking water while eating, taking small bites, and consuming foods that are easier to swallow. You can read about these solutions on our Side Effect Solutions tool. 

• All patients reported skin- and nail-related symptoms but considered them less impactful on their quality of life as they were primarily cosmetic. Physicians noted it’s helpful to reassure patients that nail loss is not harmful. 

• Physicians also commented that it is important to educate patients on expected side effects before starting the treatment.

Conclusions

This study described patient experiences and reflected how patients perceive the benefits/risks of talquetamab. Patients reported their symptoms as bearable and were satisfied especially because talquetamab had a strong clinical effectiveness. Patients and physicians agreed that real-world feedback from patients, practical tips, and management strategies are crucial for both patients and physicians using this groundbreaking therapy.

If you want to know more about talquetamab, we have an in-depth article on how it works and its side effects at Managing the Unique Side Effects of Talquetamamb with Dr. Ajai Chari, MD. 

We also invite you to explore the Bispecific Antibody Education guide, a multimedia resource that provides in-depth information about this type of therapy. 

KEEP LEARNING BISPECIFIC ANTIBODIES

Source: 

• 3786 Satisfaction and Experiences with Talquetamab: Results from Qualitative Patient and Physician Research