New cancer drug shows benefits of clinical trials

Clinical trials with Epworth patients have resulted in a new blood cancer drug being made available in Australia.

Elranatamab was listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) on 1 April 2026, providing access to Australians with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma who have received at least three prior lines of therapy.

The drug redirects cancer-killing cells towards their target.

Multiple myeloma is incurable and has one of the lowest life expectancy rates of all blood cancers, with only a 61 percent chance of surviving for five years after diagnosis. Relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma is where the cancer has returned after improvement following treatment or does not respond at all to initial treatment.

Epworth researchers started studying Elranatamab to treat multiple myeloma in 2017, and since then 23 patients have been treated with the drug across five clinical trials.

Haematologist Professor H Miles Prince, Director at the Epworth Centre for Immunotherapies and Snowdome Laboratories, said the results of one clinical trial directly led to the drug becoming available in Australia to treat relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma.

The global study showed 61 percent of patients on the clinical trial had their cancer shrink, while 35 percent had their cancer become undetectable. For most of those patients, their myeloma had not returned even after two years.

"Elranatamab now being listed on the PBS is long-awaited and wonderful news for all patients with myeloma," Prof Prince said.

"It shows the importance of clinical trials, where research can turn hope into reality for people with blood cancer.

"We are incredibly grateful to those patients who have taken part in our clinical trials of Elranatamab – not only has their participation improved outcomes, but it will also help to improve the lives of others with myeloma for many years to come."

The Epworth Centre for Immunotherapies and Snowdome Laboratories continues to take part in five active clinical trials investigating Elranatamab as a front-line therapy and in combination with other anti-myeloma therapies.

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