Helping to Bring Multiple Myeloma Treatment Closer to Home

(BPT) - Sponsored by GSK

Dr. Hakan Kaya is a board certified community-based hematologic oncologist and has been compensated by GSK for participating in this article.

Most people with multiple myeloma get treatment close to home. They do not usually go to larger major academic centers, but instead many receive care at their local community oncology clinics.¹ These local clinics help patients stay near their families, support systems and daily routines during treatment. They also coordinate the many steps involved in starting and continuing care, including helping with insurance approvals and billing logistics. When those steps work together smoothly, patients can start treatment without unnecessary delays or added stress.

"Approximately 70% of patients with multiple myeloma are treated in community settings," said Dr. Hakan Kaya, a Hematologic Oncologist at Cancer Care Northwest. "That means even small improvements in how care is delivered at the community level can make a meaningful difference for patients."

Multiple myeloma is a blood cancer that starts in the bone marrow, where abnormal plasma cells grow and crowd out healthy blood cells.² As the second most common blood cancer in the U.S., roughly 36,000 new patients will be diagnosed this year.^3,4 Despite meaningful advancements in treatment, the disease often returns or becomes resistant. Many patients will go through several lines of therapy, making timely access and prompt initiation of the next therapy especially important.⁵

A new update may help this process. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently assigned BLENREP (belantamab mafodotin-blmf) for injection 70 mg, a permanent billing code, known as a J-Code (J9053). This standardizes how the therapy is billed and reimbursed.

While it may sound technical, this can really matter for multiple myeloma patients who may be experiencing cycles of remission and relapse. When treatment decisions need to happen quickly, a clearer reimbursement process can help patients promptly start the next step in their care.

BLENREP is a prescription medicine approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use in combination with the medicines bortezomib and dexamethasone to treat adults with multiple myeloma who have received at least 2 prior treatments, including a proteasome inhibitor and an immunomodulatory agent, and whose cancer has come back or did not respond to prior treatment. It is not known if BLENREP is safe and effective in children.

It is also one of the available treatment options for multiple myeloma that is designed to be administered across a range of healthcare settings, including community clinics.

BLENREP can cause serious side effects, including eye problems. These eye problems are common and can sometimes be severe, leading to vision changes or even vision loss. Changes can occur on the surface of the eye (cornea) and may cause symptoms such as: Blurred or decreased vision, dry eyes, sensitivity to light, eye irritation or pain, or feeling like something is in your eyes. Ulcers on the surface of the eye (corneal ulcers), including with infection, may also happen during treatment with BLENREP. These are not all of the possible side effects of BLENREP.

Eye exams are required before starting treatment, before each dose, and as needed if new or worsening eye problems occur. It's important that you keep all of your eye care appointments because some changes can happen without symptoms and may only be seen on an eye exam. Use preservative-free artificial tears at least four times per day during treatment and avoid contact lenses unless directed by your eye specialist. Use caution when driving or operating machinery because BLENREP may cause changes to your vision.

Because of the risk of eye problems, BLENREP is available only through a restricted program called the BLENREP Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS). Your healthcare provider will give you the BLENREP REMS Patient Guide, which describes the risk of eye problems, and will explain the REMS program to you. To receive BLENREP, you must enroll in the REMS program and receive eye exams during treatment.

Please see Important Safety Information below and the fullPrescribing Information, includingBoxed Warning and Medication Guide, for more details.

"There is a lot of paperwork behind the scenes when it comes to cancer care," added Dr. Kaya. "Even small gaps in reimbursement clarity can create delays at the critical moment a patient should be starting their next treatment."

This is especially important for patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma, where treatment decisions must build on what has or hasn't worked before, alongside individual patient needs.

"In later lines of therapy, treatment decisions aren't just about clinical factors," said Dr. Kaya. "Access, travel, and setting of care all play a role in determining the best path forward."

Those living with or caring for someone with multiple myeloma are encouraged to talk with their care teams about what treatment is best for them, including what side effects or logistical factors may come into play.

To learn more about this treatment option, visit BLENREP.com.

APPROVED USE

BLENREP is a prescription medicine used in combination with the medicines bortezomib and dexamethasone to treat adults with multiple myeloma who have received at least 2 prior treatments, including a proteasome inhibitor and an immunomodulatory agent, and their cancer has come back or did not respond to prior treatment.

It is not known if BLENREP is safe and effective in children.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

What is the most important information I should know about BLENREP?

BLENREP can cause serious side effects, including:

• Eye problems.Eye problems are common with BLENREP and can also be severe. BLENREP can cause changes to the surface of your eye, which can lead to symptoms of eye problems, including:
  • decreased vision
  • blurred vision
  • dry eyes
  • sensitivity to light
  • feeling like something is in your eyes
  • eye irritation
  • eye pain

Ulcers on the surface of the eye (corneal ulcers), including with infection, may also happen during treatment with BLENREP.

Tell your healthcare provider right awayif you notice any new or worsening eye symptoms or vision changes during treatment with BLENREP.

Your healthcare provider will refer you to an eye care specialist (such as an ophthalmologist or optometrist) to check your eyes before you start treatment, before you receive each dose of BLENREP, and as needed for any new or worsening eye problems. It is important that you:

• • Keep all of your eye care appointments because some changes can happen without symptoms and may only be seen on an eye exam
  • Use preservative-free artificial tears at least 4 times per day starting with your first infusion and continuing until the end of treatment with BLENREP
  • Avoid wearing contact lenses during treatment with BLENREP unless directed by your eye care specialist
  • Use caution when driving or operating machinery because BLENREP may cause changes to your vision

Because of the risk of eye problems, BLENREP is available only through a restricted program called the BLENREP Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS).Your healthcare provider will give you the BLENREP REMS Patient Guide, which describes the risk of eye problems, and will explain the REMS program to you. To receive BLENREP, you must enroll in the REMS program and receive eye exams during treatment. See "What are the possible side effects of BLENREP?"for more information about side effects.

What are the possible side effects of BLENREP?

BLENREP can cause serious side effects, including:

• See "Eye Problems"in "What is the most important information I should know about BLENREP?"
• Decrease in platelets (thrombocytopenia)is common with BLENREP and can also be severe. Platelets are a type of blood cell that help your blood to clot. Your healthcare provider will check your blood cell counts before you start treatment with BLENREP and during treatment as needed. Tell your healthcare provider if you get any bleeding or bruising during treatment with BLENREP

The most common side effects of BLENREP when given with bortezomib and dexamethasone include:

• See "Eye problems"in "What is the most important information I should know about BLENREP?"
• upper respiratory tract infection
• liver problems
• diarrhea
• tiredness
• pneumonia
• cataract
• COVID-19

The most common severe abnormal blood test results during treatment with BLENREP includedecreases in platelets, white blood cells, and hemoglobin, and increases in certain liver enzymes.

Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get new or worsening unexplained signs or symptoms of lung problems, including shortness of breath, chest pain, or cough.

Your healthcare provider may decrease your dose, temporarily stop, or completely stop treatment with BLENREP if you get serious side effects.

BLENREP may affect fertility in males and females, which may affect your ability to have children. Talk to your healthcare provider if this is a concern for you.

These are not all of the possible side effects of BLENREP.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Before receiving BLENREP, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you:

• have or had vision or eye problems
• have or had bleeding problems
• are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. BLENREP can harm your unborn baby
  Females who are able to become pregnant:
  • Your healthcare provider will do a pregnancy test before you start treatment with BLENREP
  • Use effective birth control during treatment with BLENREP and for 4 months after the last dose. Talk to your healthcare provider about birth control methods you can use during this time
  • Tell your healthcare provider if you become pregnant or think you may be pregnant during treatment with BLENREP
• Males with female partners who are able to become pregnant:
  • Use effective birth control during treatment with BLENREP and for 6 months after the last dose
• are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if BLENREP passes into your breast milk. Do not breastfeed during treatment with BLENREP and for 3 months after the last dose

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visithttp://www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088. You may also report negative side effects to GSK atgsk.public.reportum.com or 1-888-825-5249.

Please see full Prescribing Information, including Boxed Warning and Medication Guide for patients.

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©2026 GSK or licensor.

PMUS-BLMCOCO260004 July 2026

Produced in USA.

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