GSK Initiative Addresses Key Challenges In Multiple Myeloma Care

GSK recently launched an international, multi-year initiative to advance innovation and address key needs in the multiple myeloma community.

The project, Target the Future, will provide education on multiple myeloma progress, identify community challenges, and advance solutions to create a better future for patients and their caregivers.

Although there are new therapies for multiple myeloma, patients still face significant roadblocks, including access to care and disparities in outcomes among certain populations. 

The recent advances in multiple myeloma combined with the challenges that patients still face inspired Target the Future.

“As part of our ongoing commitment to the myeloma community, we connected with patients and caregivers to identify some of the community’s key challenges, and now, we’re calling on innovative minds around the world to contribute potential solutions to help address these issues,” Tania Small, vice president and global medical oncology franchise head at GSK, said in the announcement. 

“Together, we can accelerate ideas that will make a positive and meaningful impact for patients with multiple myeloma,” Small continued. 

Multiple myeloma is the third most common blood cancer in the US and is not curable. Despite advances in treatment options, outcomes remain poor for patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma. 

In August 2020, FDA approved GSK’s Blenrep as a monotherapy treatment for adult patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma who received at least four prior therapies. 

Blenrep was the first anti-BCMA (B-cell maturation antigen) therapy approved anywhere in the world. 

Starting now, the Target the Future Think Tank Challenge will accept submissions of ideas to create a better future for the multiple myeloma community. The program will award a $100,000 grant to the strongest proposal that will advance the initiative.  

GSK consulted with patients and caregivers to identify issues impacting the myeloma community as part of the submission. Top challenges included understanding treatment options, getting the right care, relieving the emotional burden, and addressing disparities and inequities. 

Patients, caregivers, healthcare professionals, researchers, data scientists, advocates, or non-profit organizations can submit their proposals at www.targetthefuturemm.com until February 2022, a GSK spokesperson stated. 

A multidisciplinary advisory group of individuals personally and professionally connected to the multiple myeloma community will evaluate the submissions.