Dr Lonial on Iberdomide Approval and Trials to Watch in Myeloma

In an interview live from the 2026 International Myeloma Society (IMS) Annual Meeting, Sagar Lonial, MD, discussed the FDA approval of iberdomide, for which data were presented at the meeting, and the additional CELMoD agent trials clinicians should watch for.

Lonial noted that the risk evaluation and mitigation strategies (REMS) portal for iberdomide (Zenbexus) opened only a week before the interview, so it is too early to see how the agent is being used in practice following its FDA approval. Even so, he said his conversations with colleagues in both the community and research settings show substantial excitement. Clinicians are interested in using iberdomide not only in combination with daratumumab (Darzalex) but also in other settings, such as maintenance after chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy, where the agent's immune effects may be especially important.

Looking ahead, Lonial pointed to mezigdomide, another cereblon E3 ligase modulatory drug (CELMoD) agent, as the next to watch. Data from the phase 3 SUCCESSOR-2 trial (NCT05552976) were presented at the 2026 ASCO Annual Meeting and the EHA Congress, and the PDUFA date for mezigdomide is in the spring of 2027, which could make it a second CELMoD agent available to clinicians.

He also highlighted several trial strategies in development. Combinations of CELMoD agents with isatuximab (Sarclisa) or daratumumab are being evaluated as maintenance therapy, both with and without transplant. Induction therapy trials are also under way. In addition, Lonial described his own group's immune therapy–based, curative-intent work, which is examining combinations of B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA)-targeted bispecific antibodies with iberdomide.

Lonial described the current moment as "just the door opening" for the CELMoD class and encouraged clinicians to stay tuned as these studies mature.