Prof Pieter Sonneveld speaks to ecancer about long-term results from the phase III PERSEUS trial comparing daratumumab plus bortezomib, lenalidomide and dexamethasone (D-VRd), followed by daratumumab and lenalidomide maintenance, with VRd followed by lenalidomide maintenance in transplant-eligible patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma.

He reports that after a median follow-up of 6.8 years, the daratumumab-based regimen continued to demonstrate superior progression-free survival, with a six-year progression-free survival rate of 81.1% compared with 56.1% in the control arm.

Prof Sonneveld highlights significantly higher rates of measurable residual disease negativity and sustained responses, with many patients successfully discontinuing daratumumab maintenance following MRD-guided assessment.

He also reports improved progression-free survival on subsequent therapy, an emerging overall survival benefit and no new safety signals. These findings reinforce D-VRd followed by daratumumab and lenalidomide maintenance as a standard of care for transplant-eligible patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma.