About Multiple Myeloma (MM)

Multiple myeloma is a rare disease affecting fewer than five in 10,000, yet one of the most common blood cancers in the world. Multiple myeloma is an incurable form of cancer where the plasma cells in the bone marrow grow uncontrollably, while other blood forming cells such as white and red blood cells and blood platelets are suppressed. This leads to bone pain and fractures, anemia, infections and other complications. Normal plasma cells produce antibodies and play a key role in the immune system. New treatments have greatly improved prognosis and survival of multiple myeloma patients. Still, there remain significant unmet medical needs in the treatment of multiple myeloma since patients eventually relapse and become resistant to existing drugs. Due to resistance issues with current treatments, clinicians welcome new medicines with novel mechanisms of action.

The multiple myeloma market

The multiple myeloma market is growing strongly. In the eight major markets (8MM: US, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, UK, Japan and China), the multiple myeloma market was valued at USD 16 billion in 2017 and the market is expected to increase 48% by 2026 (GlobalData). The US accounts for around half and the EU countries 40% of the total market sales.