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DARZALEX FASPRO®

(daratumumab and hyaluronidase-fihj)

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DARZALEX FASPRO® (daratumumab and hyaluronidase-fihj)

Medical Information

DARZALEX FASPRO - SMM3001 (AQUILA) study summary

DARZALEX FASPRO® (daratumumab and hyaluronidase-fihj) received approval from the FDA on November 6, 2025, for the treatment of adult patients with high-risk smoldering multiple myeloma (SMM) as monotherapy based on the AQUILA trial.1

AQUILA (NCT03301220) was a phase 3, open-label, randomized trial that evaluated the safety and efficacy of DARZALEX FASPRO® monotherapy vs active monitoring in patients with high-risk smoldering multiple myeloma.1,2

AQUILA high-risk definition

The AQUILA high-risk eligibility criteria were based on a compilation of risk models that were recognized at the time AQUILA was designed in 2015 and consistent with the 2015 consensus model.3 The table below provides a summary of which high-risk parameters utilized by existing models at the time of AQUILA study design were used in the study.

AQUILA risk factors2 Mayo
(2008)4
PETHEMA
(2007)5
Other risk
factors3,6
2015 consensus
model for high-
risk SMM3
BMPCs ≥10% X X
And ≥1 of the following:
Serum M-protein ≥30 g/L X X
Abnormal FLC ratio ≥8 and <100 (serum involved:uninvolved) X X
IgA SMM X X
Immunoparesis with reduction of 2 uninvolved Ig isotypes X X
Clonal BMPCs >50% to <60% X X
Updates to high-risk definition

After AQUILA began enrolling patients in 2017, different models for identifying patients with high-risk SMM have been established, particularly the Mayo 2018 criteria.7 While there is other criteria, such as IMWG scoring system8 and PANGEA 2023,9 Mayo 2018 criteria is currently the most widely accepted by physicians.

The table below provides a comparison of the AQUILA high-risk eligibility criteria to the Mayo 2018 criteria.

AQUILA2 Mayo 2018 20/2/207

Clonal BMPCs ≥10% AND ≥1 risk factors:

  • Serum M-protein ≥30 g/L
  • IgA SMM
  • Immunoparesis with reduction of 2 uninvolved Ig isotypes (IgA, IgM, or IgG only)
  • FLC ratio ≥8 to <100
  • Clonal BMPCs >50% to <60% with measurable disease
  • Genetic modifications (t[4;14], t[14;16], del[17p], and/or amp[1q21]) will be investigated as an exploratory objective

≥2 risk factors:

  • BMPCs >20%
  • M-protein >2 g/dL
  • FLC ratio >20

41%

of AQUILA patients exhibited ≥2 of the Mayo 2018 criteria for high-risk SMM.2

DARZALEX FASPRO® is only indicated for patients with high-risk SMM. It is not indicated for other risk categories.1

Key eligibility2
  • ≥18 years of age
  • Confirmed SMM diagnosis (per IMWG criteria) for ≤5 years
  • ECOG PS score of 0 or 1
  • Clonal BMPCs ≥10% and ≥1 of the following risk factors:
    • Serum M-protein ≥30 g/L
    • IgA SMM
    • Immunoparesis with reduction of 2 uninvolved Ig isotypes
    • Serum involved:uninvolved FLC ratio ≥8 and <100
    • Clonal BMPCs >50% to <60%

All patients were required to have CT/PET-CT and MRI imaging during screening10

Stratification factors2
  • Number of risk factors associated with progression to MM (<3 vs ≥3)
  • Serum M-protein level ≥30 g/L (yes vs no)
  • IgA SMM (yes vs no)
  • Degree of immunoparesis (reduced levels of 2 uninvolved immunoglobulins vs reduced levels of <2 uninvolved immunoglobulins)
  • Serum FLC ratio ≥8 (yes vs no)
  • Percentage of clonal plasma cells in bone marrow (>50% to <60% vs ≤50%)
  • The criteria defining high-risk SMM have evolved over the years and differ among studies of interest for the treatment of this disease, highlighting a need for more uniform criteria2
    • In AQUILA, the criteria for high-risk SMM were based on data available at the time of trial development, before the establishment of Mayo 2018 risk criteria

Design: Multicenter, open-label, randomized phase 3 study.1,2


Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of DARZALEX FASPRO® monotherapy vs active monitoring in patients with high-risk smoldering myeloma.1,2


  • The criteria defining high-risk smoldering multiple myeloma have evolved over the years and differ among studies of interest for the treatment of this disease, highlighting a need for more uniform criteria
    • In AQUILA, the criteria for high-risk smoldering multiple myeloma were based on data available at the time of trial development before the establishment of Mayo 2018 risk criteria
      • In accordance with the Mayo 2018 risk criteria, 41% of patients were retrospectively classified as having high-risk disease
  • Various subsequent therapies were initiated at the time of disease progression on the basis of IMWG SLiM-CRAB criteria, which may complicate the evaluation of long-term outcomes such as overall survival
Primary endpoint1,2
  • PFS by independent review committee per IMWG SLiM-CRAB criteria*
Major secondary endpoints1,2
  • Overall response
  • Complete response rate
  • Disease progression as assessed with IMWG biochemical or SLiM-CRAB criteria
  • Time to first-line treatment for active MM
  • Death from any cause
*Evaluated in an analysis of the time from randomization to the initial documentation of progression to active multiple myeloma or death from any cause, whichever occurred first.

IMWG SLiM-CRAB diagnostic criteria for MM10:

Clonal BMPCs ≥10% or biopsy-proven bony or extramedullary plasmacytoma
AND
≥1 of the below multiple myeloma-defining events:

CRAB criteria

Calcium elevation: serum calcium >0.25 mmol/L (>1 mg/dL) higher than the upper limit of normal of >2.75 mmol/L (>11 mg/dL)

Renal insufficiency: creatinine clearance <40 mL/min or serum creatinine >177 μmol/L (>2 mg/dL)

Anemia: hemoglobin value >20 g/L below the limit of normal or a hemoglobin value <100 g/L

Bone disease: ≥1 osteolytic lesions on skeletal radiography, CT, or PET-CT


SLiM criteria

Clonal BMPCs: ≥60% BMPCs

Serum FLC: involved:uninvolved serum FLC ≥100

Focal lesions: ≥1 focal lesions on MRI studies

41%

of patients had 2 or more of the following criteria for high-risk smoldering multiple myeloma: serum monoclonal protein level <2 g/dL, involved-to-uninvolved serum-free light chain ratio <20, and bone marrow plasma cells <20%. DARZALEX FASPRO® is only indicated for patients with high-risk smoldering multiple myeloma. It is not indicated for other risk categories.1,2

Patient demographics2:

*Risk factors: serum M-protein ≥30 g/L, IgA SMM, immunoparesis with reduction of 2 uninvolved immunoglobulin isotypes, serum involved:uninvolved FLC ratio ≥8 and <100, or clonal BMPCs >50% to <60% with measurable disease.
Mayo 2018 risk criteria: serum M-protein >2 g/dL, involved:uninvolved FLC ratio >20, and clonal BMPCs >20%. Patients with 0 factors = low risk, 1 factor = intermediate risk, ≥2 factors = high risk.
Cytogenetic risk was assessed by fluorescence in situ hybridization.
  • The criteria defining high-risk SMM have evolved over the years and differ among studies of interest for the treatment of this disease, highlighting a need for more uniform criteria2
    • In AQUILA, the criteria for high-risk SMM were based on data available at the time of trial development, before the establishment of Mayo 2018 risk criteria

  • With a median follow-up of 65.2 months (range, 0 to 76.6), progression to active MM (IMWG SLiM-CRAB criteria) or death had occurred in 67 patients (34.5%) in the DARZALEX FASPRO® group and in 99 patients (50.5%) in the active monitoring group (HR, 0.49; 95% CI, 0.36-0.67; P<0.001)2
  • Progression-free survival at 5 years was 63.1% in the DARZALEX FASPRO® group compared with 40.8% in the active monitoring group2

  • ORR was 63.4% with DARZALEX FASPRO® treatment compared with 1.0% with active monitoring
Response DARZALEX FASPRO®
(n = 194)
Active monitoring
(n = 196)
ORR (sCR+CR+VGPR+PR), n (%)* ORR (sCR+CR+VGPR+PR), n (%)* 123 (63.4%) 2 (1.0%)
sCR 7 (3.6%) 0
CR 10 (5.2%) 0
VGPR 41 (21.1%) 1 (0.5%)
PR 65 (33.5%) 1 (0.5%)

*Based on intent-to-treat population per investigator assessment.

This analysis is not included in the Prescribing Information for DARZALEX FASPRO®.

Summary of progression events (intent-to-treat population)2

  • No renal insufficiency was observed in either arm

*Disease progression was assessed by an independent review committee in accordance with the IMWG SLiM-CRAB diagnostic criteria for MM.
A patient could meet more than one criterion for disease progression.
Some patients met the CRAB criteria for renal insufficiency, but the investigator attributed this to a cause other than disease progression to MM.

This analysis is not included in the Prescribing Information for DARZALEX FASPRO®.

Initiation of first-line MM treatment by clinical cut-off

Response DARZALEX FASPRO®
(n = 193)
Active monitoring
(n = 196)
Initiation of first-line treatment for MM 33.2% 53.6%
HR (95% CI) 0.46 (0.33-0.62)
5-year estimate 29.7% 55.9%

This analysis is not included in the Prescribing Information for DARZALEX FASPRO®.

Overall survival in the intent-to-treat population

OS DARZALEX FASPRO®
(n = 194)
Active monitoring
(n = 196)
Deaths, n (%) 15 (7.7) 26 (13.3)
HR (95% CI) 0.52 (0.27-0.98)
5-year OS 93.0% 86.9%

This analysis is not included in the Prescribing Information for DARZALEX FASPRO® and was conducted post hoc. Potential limitations on the interpretation of post hoc analyses apply.

In AQUILA, 41% of patients were retrospectively classified as having high-risk SMM based on IMWG 2020 (Mayo 2018 or 20/2/20) risk stratification as they met at least 2 of the following criteria1,2:

  • Serum monoclonal protein level <2 g/dL
  • Involved-to-uninvolved serum-free light chain ratio >20
  • Bone marrow plasma cells >20%

The following data is from a post hoc analysis of these patients.

Baseline characteristics: patients with high-risk SMM per IMWG 2020 (Mayo 2018 or 20/2/20) criteria11*

DARZALEX FASPRO®
n = 72
Active monitoring
n = 86
Age, median (range) 64.0 (31-79) 65.0 (37-83)
Female, n (%) 36 (50.0) 45 (52.3)
Race, n (%)
White 60 (83.3) 67 (77.9)
Black or African American 2 (2.8) 6 (7.0)
Asian 7 (9.7) 8 (9.3)
American Indian or Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander  0 2 (2.3)
Multiple/not reported 3 (4.2) 3 (3.5)
Baseline ECOG score, n (%)
0 61 (84.7) 66 (76.7)
1 11 (15.3) 20 (23.3)
ISS staging, N 70 85
I, n (%) 52 (74.3) 65 (76.5)
II, n (%) 17 (24.3) 18 (21.2)
III, n (%) 1 (1.4) 2 (2.4)

*IMWG 2020 (Mayo 2018 or 20/2/20) risk was retrospectively assessed; criteria included serum M-protein ≥2 g/L, involved:uninvolved FLC ratio ≥20, and clonal BMPCs ≥20%. Patients with ≥2 factors = high risk.

Progression-free survival: patients with high-risk SMM per IMWG 2020 (Mayo 2018 or 20/2/20) criteria11*

Median follow-up of 65.2 months

  • Retrospective review of patients with high-risk SMM per IMWG 2020 (Mayo 2018 or 20/2/20) criteria showed median PFS was not reached for DARZALEX FASPRO® vs 22.1 months for active monitoring; HR, 0.36 (95% Cl, 0.23-0.58)12
  • The 60-month PFS rate was 60.4% for DARZALEX FASPRO® vs 23.6% for active monitoring11

*IMWG 2020 (Mayo 2018 or 20/2/20) risk was retrospectively assessed; criteria included serum M-protein ≥2 g/L, involved:uninvolved FLC ratio ≥20, and clonal BMPCs ≥20%. Patients with ≥2 factors = high risk.

This analysis is not included in the Prescribing Information for DARZALEX FASPRO® and was conducted post hoc. Potential limitations on the interpretation of post hoc analyses apply.

*IMWG 2020 (Mayo 2018 or 20/2/20) risk was retrospectively assessed; criteria included serum M-protein ≥2 g/L, involved:uninvolved FLC ratio ≥20, and clonal BMPCs ≥20%. Patients with ≥2 factors = high risk.
Hazard ratio and 95% CI was calculated using the Cox proportional hazards model with treatment as the sole explanatory.

  • The most common adverse reactions (>20%) included1:
    • Upper respiratory tract infection
    • Musculoskeletal pain
    • Fatigue
    • Diarrhea
    • Rash
    • Sleep disorder
    • Sensory neuropathy
    • Injection site reactions
  • Serious adverse reactions occurred in 29% of patients who received DARZALEX FASPRO®. The most frequent SAEs in >2% of patients who received DARZALEX FASPRO® were1:
Pneumonia
COVID-19
Diarrhea
Thromboembolism
  • Fatal adverse reactions occurred in 1% of patients who received DARZALEX FASPRO®, including COVID-19 (0.5%) and pneumonia (0.5%)1
  • Permanent treatment discontinuation due to an adverse reaction occurred in 6% of patients who received DARZALEX FASPRO®1
  • Adverse reactions which resulted in permanent discontinuation of DARZALEX FASPRO® in more than 1 patient included fatigue, anxiety, and dyspnea1
  • Dosage interruptions of DARZALEX FASPRO® due to an adverse reaction occurred in 47% of patients1
  • Adverse reactions which required dosage interruption in ≥5% of patients included upper respiratory infection, pneumonia, and COVID-191

Adverse reaction DARZALEX FASPRO®
(n = 193)
Active monitoring
(n = 196)
All grades
(%)
Grade 3 or 4
(%)
All grades
(%)
Grade 3 or 4
(%)
Infections
Upper respiratory tract infection* 66 1‡‡‡ 27 0
Pneumonia 16 7§§§ 8 3‡‡‡
Rhinitis 10 0 2 0
Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders
Musculoskeletal pain§ 59 1‡‡‡ 42 3‡‡‡
General disorders and administration site conditions
Fatigue|| 42 3‡‡‡ 21 1‡‡‡
Injection site reactions 20 0 0 0
Infusion-related reactions# 17 1‡‡‡ 0 0
Pyrexia 17 0 3 1‡‡‡
Edema** 15 1 5 1‡‡‡
Gastrointestinal disorders
Diarrhea 27 2‡‡‡ 5 1‡‡‡
Nausea 19 0 5 0
Abdominal pain†† 17 1‡‡‡ 7 2‡‡‡
Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders
Rash‡‡ 27 1‡‡‡ 6 1‡‡‡
Psychiatric disorders
Sleep disorder§§ 24 1‡‡‡ 5 0
Nervous system disorders
Sensory neuropathy|||| 20 0 8 0
Headache¶¶ 18 1‡‡‡ 8 0
Dizziness## 12 0 5 0
Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders
Cough*** 19 0 7 0
Dyspnea††† 18 1‡‡‡ 6 1

*Upper respiratory tract infection includes acute sinusitis, adenoviral upper respiratory infection, catarrh, influenza, influenza like illness, laryngitis, metapneumovirus infection, nasal congestion, nasopharyngitis, parainfluenzae virus infection, pharyngitis, respiratory tract congestion, respiratory tract infection, respiratory tract infection viral, sinus congestion, sinusitis, throat irritation, tonsillitis, tracheitis, upper respiratory tract congestion, upper respiratory tract infection, upper respiratory tract infection bacterial, upper-airway cough syndrome, and viral upper respiratory tract infection.
Pneumonia includes COVID-19 pneumonia, lower respiratory tract infection, organizing pneumonia, pneumonia, pneumonia bacterial, pneumonia pneumococcal, pneumonia streptococcal, and pneumonia viral.
Rhinitis includes rhinitis, rhinitis atrophic, rhinorrhea, rhinovirus infection, and viral rhinitis.
§Musculoskeletal pain includes arthralgia, axillary pain, back pain, breast pain, chest pain, facial spasm, fibromyalgia, flank pain, groin pain, muscle fatigue, muscle rupture, muscle spasms, muscle strain, muscle tightness, muscular weakness, musculoskeletal chest pain, musculoskeletal pain, musculoskeletal stiffness, myalgia, neck pain, non-cardiac chest pain, pain, pain in extremity, pain in jaw, periarthritis, radicular pain, rotator cuff syndrome, spinal pain, spinal stenosis, and tendon pain.
||Fatigue includes asthenia, fatigue, and malaise.
Injection site reaction includes injection site discoloration, injection site erythema, injection site hemorrhage, injection site induration, injection site edema, injection site pain, injection site pruritus, injection site rash, injection site swelling, injection site urticaria, injection site vesicles, and injection site warmth.
#Infusion-related reactions includes terms determined by investigators to be related to infusion.
**Edema includes brain edema, eye swelling, eyelid edema, generalized edema, joint swelling, laryngeal edema, localized edema, edema, edema peripheral, peripheral swelling, post procedural edema, post procedural swelling, swelling face, and swelling of eyelid.
††Abdominal pain includes abdominal discomfort, abdominal pain, abdominal pain lower, abdominal pain upper, abdominal tenderness, epigastric discomfort, and gastrointestinal pain.
‡‡Rash includes acne, dermatitis, dermatitis allergic, dermatitis bullous, dermatitis contact, drug eruption, drug hypersensitivity, eczema, eczema asteatotic, eczema infected, erysipelas, erythema, erythema multiforme, rash, rash erythematous, rash maculo-papular, rash papular, rash pruritic, seborrheic dermatitis, seborrheic keratosis, skin lesion, skin reaction, skin ulcer, and urticaria.
§§Sleep disorder includes insomnia, restless legs syndrome, sleep apnea syndrome, sleep deficit, and sleep disorder.
||||Sensory neuropathy includes allodynia, anosmia, burning sensation, carpal tunnel syndrome, cervical radiculopathy, cervicobrachial syndrome, dysesthesia, hypoesthesia, hypoesthesia oral, paresthesia, paresthesia oral, peripheral sensorimotor neuropathy, peripheral sensory neuropathy, pharyngeal paresthesia, polyneuropathy, and sensory disturbance.
¶¶Headache includes headache, migraine, and vascular headache.
##Dizziness includes dizziness and dizziness postural.
***Cough includes cough and productive cough.
†††Dyspnea includes dyspnea and dyspnea exertional.
‡‡‡Only Grade 3 adverse reactions occurred.
§§§Fatal adverse reactions occurred for pneumonia: n=1 (1%) in the DARZALEX FASPRO® arm.

Clinically relevant adverse reactions in <10% of patients who received DARZALEX FASPRO® included1:

-19
-19

  • Any AE occurred in 96.9% and 82.7% with DARZALEX FASPRO® and active monitoring, respectively
  • Grade 3 or 4 AEs occurred in 40.4% and 30.1% with DARZALEX FASPRO® and active monitoring, respectively
    • The most common Grade 3 or 4 AE was hypertension (5.7% vs 4.6%)
  • Serious AEs occurred in 29.0% and 19.4% with DARZALEX FASPRO® and active monitoring, respectively
    • The most common serious AE was pneumonia (3.6% vs 0.5%)
  • Second primary cancer occurred in 9.3% and 10.2% with DARZALEX FASPRO® and active monitoring, respectively

Contraindications1:

DARZALEX FASPRO® is contraindicated in patients with a history of severe hypersensitivity to daratumumab, hyaluronidase, or any of the components of the formulation.

Warnings and precautions1:

Please see the full prescribing information for more details.

Hypersensitivity and other administration reactions
  • Both systemic administration-related reactions, including severe or life-threatening reactions, and local injection-site reactions can occur with DARZALEX FASPRO®
  • Fatal reactions have been reported with daratumumab-containing products, including DARZALEX FASPRO®
Systemic reactions
  • In a pooled safety population of 1446 patients with multiple myeloma (N=1253) or light chain (AL) amyloidosis (N=193) who received DARZALEX FASPRO® as monotherapy or as part of a combination therapy, 7% of patients experienced a systemic administration-related reaction (Grade 2: 3%, Grade 3: 0.8%, Grade 4: 0.1%)
  • In patients with high-risk smoldering multiple myeloma (N=193), systemic administration-related reactions occurred in 17% of patients in AQUILA (Grade 2: 7%, Grade 3: 1%)
  • In all patients, (N=1639), systemic administration-related reactions occurred in 7% of patients with the first injection, 0.5% with the second injection, and cumulatively 1% with subsequent injections
  • The median time to onset was 3.2 hours (range: 4 minutes to 3.5 days)
  • Of the 283 systemic administration-related reactions that occurred in 135 patients, 240 (85%) occurred on the day of DARZALEX FASPRO® administration
  • Delayed systemic administration-related reactions have occurred in 1% of the patients

  • Severe reactions included hypoxia, dyspnea, hypertension, tachycardia, and ocular adverse reactions, including choroidal effusion, acute myopia, and acute angle closure glaucoma
  • Other signs and symptoms of systemic administration-related reactions may include respiratory symptoms, such as bronchospasm, nasal congestion, cough, throat irritation, allergic rhinitis, and wheezing, as well as anaphylactic reaction, pyrexia, chest pain, pruritus, chills, vomiting, nausea, hypotension, and blurred vision

  • Pre-medicate patients with histamine-1 receptor antagonist, acetaminophen, and corticosteroids
  • Monitor patients for systemic administration-related reactions, especially following the first and second injections
  • For anaphylactic reaction or life-threatening (Grade 4) administration-related reactions, immediately and permanently discontinue DARZALEX FASPRO®
  • Consider administering corticosteroids and other medications after the administration of DARZALEX FASPRO® depending on dosing regimen and medical history to minimize the risk of delayed (defined as occurring the day after administration) systemic administration-related reactions

  • Ocular adverse reactions, including acute myopia and narrowing of the anterior chamber angle due to ciliochoroidal effusions with potential for increased intraocular pressure or glaucoma, have occurred with daratumumab-containing products
  • If ocular symptoms occur, interrupt DARZALEX FASPRO® and seek immediate ophthalmologic evaluation prior to restarting DARZALEX FASPRO®
Local reactions
  • In this pooled safety population of 1446 patients with multiple myeloma (N=1253) or light chain (AL) amyloidosis (N=193), injection-site reactions occurred in 8% of patients, including Grade 2 reactions in 1.1%
  • The most frequent (>1%) injection-site reaction was injection-site erythema and injection site rash
  • In patients with high-risk smoldering multiple myeloma (N=193), injection-site reactions occurred in 28% of patients, including Grade 2 reactions in 3%
  • These local reactions occurred a median of 6 minutes (range: 0 minutes to 6.5 days) after starting administration of DARZALEX FASPRO®
  • Monitor for local reactions and consider symptomatic management
Infections
  • DARZALEX FASPRO® can cause serious, life-threatening, or fatal infections
  • In patients who received DARZALEX FASPRO® in a pooled safety population including patients with smoldering multiple myeloma and light chain (AL) amyloidosis (N=1639), serious infections, including opportunistic infections, occurred in 24% of patients, Grade 3 or 4 infections occurred in 22%, and fatal infections occurred in 2.5%
  • The most common type of serious infection reported was pneumonia (8.5%)
  • Monitor patients for signs and symptoms of infection prior to and during treatment with DARZALEX FASPRO® and treat appropriately
  • Administer prophylactic antimicrobials according to guidelines
Neutropenia
  • DARZALEX FASPRO® may increase neutropenia induced by background therapy
  • Monitor complete blood cell counts periodically during treatment according to manufacturer’s prescribing information for background therapies
  • Monitor patients with neutropenia for signs of infection
  • Consider withholding DARZALEX FASPRO® until recovery of neutrophils
  • In lower body weight patients receiving DARZALEX FASPRO®, higher rates of Grade 3-4 neutropenia were observed
Thrombocytopenia
  • DARZALEX FASPRO® may increase thrombocytopenia induced by background therapy
  • Monitor complete blood cell counts periodically during treatment according to manufacturer’s prescribing information for background therapies
  • Consider withholding DARZALEX FASPRO® until recovery of platelets
Embryo-fetal toxicity
  • Based on the mechanism of action, DARZALEX FASPRO® can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman
  • DARZALEX FASPRO® may cause depletion of fetal immune cells and decreased bone density
  • Advise pregnant women of the potential risk to a fetus
  • Advise females with reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with DARZALEX FASPRO® and for 3 months after the last dose
  • The combination of DARZALEX FASPRO® with lenalidomide, thalidomide, or pomalidomide is contraindicated in pregnant women because lenalidomide, thalidomide, and pomalidomide may cause birth defects and death of the unborn child
  • Refer to the lenalidomide, thalidomide, or pomalidomide prescribing information on use during pregnancy
Interference with serological testing
  • DARZALEX FASPRO® binds to CD38 on RBCs and results in a positive indirect antiglobulin test (indirect Coombs test)
  • Daratumumab-mediated positive indirect antiglobulin test may persist for up to 6 months after the last DARZALEX FASPRO® administration
  • Daratumumab bound to RBCs masks detection of antibodies to minor antigens in the patient’s serum
  • The determination of a patient’s ABO and Rh blood type are not impacted
  • Notify blood transfusion centers of this interference with serological testing and inform blood banks that a patient has received DARZALEX FASPRO®
  • Type and screen patients prior to starting DARZALEX FASPRO®
Interference with determination of complete response
  • DARZALEX FASPRO® is a human IgG kappa monoclonal antibody that can be detected on both the serum protein electrophoresis and immunofixation assays used for the clinical monitoring of endogenous M‑protein
  • This interference can impact the determination of complete response and of disease progression in some DARZALEX FASPRO®-treated patients with IgG kappa myeloma protein
Adverse reactions
  • In multiple myeloma, the most common adverse reaction (≥20%) with DARZALEX FASPRO® monotherapy is upper respiratory tract infection
  • The most common adverse reactions with combination therapy (≥20% for any combination) include fatigue, nausea, diarrhea, dyspnea, sleep disorder, headache, rash, renal impairment, motor dysfunction, pyrexia, cough, muscle spasms, back pain, vomiting, hypertension, musculoskeletal pain, decreased appetite, urinary tract infection, abdominal pain, upper respiratory tract infection, peripheral neuropathy, peripheral sensory neuropathy, constipation, pneumonia, edema, dizziness, bruising, and COVID-19
  • The most common adverse reactions (≥20%) in patients with high-risk smoldering multiple myeloma who received DARZALEX FASPRO® monotherapy are upper respiratory tract infection, musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, diarrhea, rash, sleep disorder, sensory neuropathy, and injection site reactions
  • The most common hematology laboratory abnormalities (≥40%) with DARZALEX FASPRO® are decreased leukocytes, decreased lymphocytes, decreased neutrophils, decreased platelets, and decreased hemoglobin
  1. DARZALEX FASPRO® [Prescribing Information]. Horsham, PA: Janssen Biotech, Inc.
  2. Dimopoulos MA, Voorhees PM, Schjesvold F, et al. Daratumumab or active monitoring for high-risk smoldering multiple myeloma. N Engl J Med. 2025;392(18):1777-1788.
  3. Rajkumar SV, Landgren O, Mateos MV, et al. Smoldering multiple myeloma. Blood. 2015;125(20):3069-3075.
  4. Dispenzieri A, Kyle RA, Katzmann JA, et al. Immunoglobulin free light chain ratio is an independent risk factor for progression of smoldering (asymptomatic) multiple myeloma. Blood. 2008;111(2):785-789.
  5. Pérez-Persona E, Vidriales MB, Mateo G, et al. New criteria to identify risk of progression in monoclonal gammopathy of uncertain significance and smoldering multiple myeloma based on multiparameter flow cytometry analysis of bone marrow plasma cells. Blood. 2007;110(7):2586-2592.
  6. Kyle RA, Remstein ED, Therneau TM, et al. Clinical course and prognosis of smoldering (asymptomatic) multiple myeloma. N Engl J Med. 2007;356(25):2582-2590.
  7. Lakshman A, Rajkumar SV, Buadi FK, et al. Risk stratification of smoldering multiple myeloma incorporating revised IMWG diagnostic criteria. Blood Cancer J. 2018;8:59.
  8. Mateos MV, Kumar S, Dimopoulos MA, et al. International Myeloma Working Group risk stratification model for smoldering multiple myeloma (SMM). Blood Cancer J. 2020;10(10):102.
  9. Cowan A, Ferrari F, Freeman SS, et al. Personalised progression prediction in patients with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance or smouldering multiple myeloma (PANGEA): a retrospective, multicohort study. Lancet Haematology. 2023;10(3):e203-e212.
  10. Supplement to: Dimopoulos MA, Voorhees PM, Schjesvold F, et al. Daratumumab or active monitoring for high-risk smoldering multiple myeloma. N Engl J Med. 2025;392:1777-1788.
  11. Voorhees PM, Dimopoulos MA, Cohen YC, et al. Daratumumab monotherapy versus active monitoring in patients with high-risk smoldering multiple myeloma: AQUILA outcomes based on Mayo 2018/IMWG 2020 risk stratification, IMWG scoring, and age. Oral presentation presented at: 67th American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting and Exposition; December 6-9, 2025; Orlando, FL.
  12. Dimopoulos MA, Voorhees PM, Schjesvold F, et al. Phase 3 randomized study of daratumumab monotherapy vs active monitoring in patients with high-risk smoldering multiple myeloma: primary results of the AQUILA study. Oral presentation presented at: 66th American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting and Exposition; December 7-10, 2024; San Diego, CA.
AE Adverse event ORR Overall response rate
BMPC Bone marrow plasma cells OS Overall survival
CI Confidence interval PD Progressive disease
COVID-19 Coronavirus disease 2019 PET Positron emission tomography
CR Complete response PFS Progression-free survival
CRAB Calcium elevation, renal insufficiency, anemia, bone disease PR Partial response
CT Computed tomography QW Every week
ECOG PS Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status Q2W Every 2 weeks
FDA U.S. Food and Drug Administration Q4W Every 4 weeks
FLC First light chain RBC Red blood cell
HR Hazard ratio SAE Serious adverse event
Ig Immunoglobulin SC Subcutaneous
IMWG International Myeloma Working Group sCR Stringent complete response
MM Multiple myeloma SLiM ≥60% clonal BMPCs, light chain abnormalities, MRI with ≥1 focal lesion
MRI Magnetic resonance imaging SMM Smoldering multiple myeloma
NE Not estimated VGPR Very good partial response