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(daratumumab)

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This information is intended for US healthcare professionals to access current scientific information about J&J Innovative Medicine products. It is prepared by Medical Information and is not intended for promotional purposes, nor to provide medical advice.

DARZALEX + DARZALEX FASPRO - Administration Setting

Last Updated: 09/28/2026

SUMMARY

  • Johnson & Johnson does not recommend the use of DARZALEX for intravenous (IV) use or DARZALEX FASPRO for subcutaneous (SC) use in a manner that is inconsistent with the approved labeling.
  • Among the 5 studies of DARZALEX FASPRO for SC use summarized below (COLUMBA,1 ANDROMEDA,2 PERSEUS,3 CEPHEUS,4 and AQUILA5), all doses of DARZALEX FASPRO were to be administered at outpatient visits per their clinical trial protocols.
  • Among the 7 studies of DARZALEX for IV use summarized below (GEN501,6 SIRIUS,7 GRIFFIN,8 POLLUX,9 CASTOR,10 CASSIOPEIA,11,12 and MAIA13), all doses of DARZALEX were to be administered at outpatient visits per their clinical trial protocols.
  • Binder et al (2025)14 reported the results from an open-label, single-arm study that assessed implementation of home-based administration of DARZALEX FASPRO by a home infusion nurse for patients with multiple myeloma (MM). No significant difference was identified in the primary outcome (Satisfaction with Therapy [SWT] score) or  quality of life (QoL) when comparing home care (HC) with treatment at the infusion center. There were no barriers to home administration identified and no unique adverse events (AEs) related to home administration were reported.
  • Rosenberg et al (2025)15 reported the results from a prospective, nonrandomized, single-center study that assessed home-based administration of DARZALEX FASPRO by a hematology nurse for patients with relapsed MM. On average, patients saved 177 minutes per administration given at home by a nurse (29 minutes) vs at the hospital (206 minutes).
  • De Angelis et al (2025)16,17 reported experiences with DARZALEX FASPRO administered at home by a nurse or physician to frail patients with MM. Among 24 evaluable patients, the ORR was 70.8%. The main AE that occurred during home treatment was infection (n=5). At the last follow-up, 10/28 patients died.
  • SCILLA (NCT07191379) is a phase 4, non-randomized, prospective, open-label, sponsor-initiated, multicenter study to evaluate the feasibility and safety of self-administration of DARZALEX FASPRO in patients with MM in their own home. The study is estimated to enroll 50 patients but has not yet started recruiting.18
  • Other relevant literature has been identified in addition to the data summarized above and is listed in the References section for your information.19

PRODUCT LABELING

CLINICAL PROTOCOLS

  • Among the 5 studies of DARZALEX FASPRO for SC use summarized below, all doses of DARZALEX FASPRO were to be administered at outpatient visits per their clinical trial protocols.
    • COLUMBA (MMY3012) was a phase 3, randomized, open-label, multicenter, non-inferiority study evaluating the efficacy, pharmacokinetics, and safety of DARZALEX vs DARZALEX FASPRO in patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM).1
      • All doses of DARZALEX or DARZALEX FASPRO were to be administered at outpatient visits.20
    • ANDROMEDA (AMY3001) was a prospective, randomized, active-controlled, multicenter, phase 3 study evaluating the efficacy and safety of DARZALEX FASPRO in combination with bortezomib, cyclophosphamide, and dexamethasone (D-VCd) compared to bortezomib, cyclophosphamide, and dexamethasone (VCd) alone in newly diagnosed patients with systemic immunoglobulin light-chain amyloidosis.2
      • All doses of DARZALEX FASPRO were performed as outpatient visits.21
    • PERSEUS (MMY3014) is an ongoing, open-label, multicenter, randomized, phase 3 study evaluating the efficacy and safety of DARZALEX FASPRO in combination with bortezomib, lenalidomide, and dexamethasone (D-VRd) vs bortezomib, lenalidomide, and dexamethasone (VRd) induction and consolidation followed by maintenance with lenalidomide and daratumumab (D-R) in D-VRd group or lenalidomide (R) in VRd group in patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (NDMM) eligible for autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT).3 
      • All injections of DARZALEX FASPRO will be administered in an outpatient setting.22  
    • CEPHEUS (MMY3019) is an ongoing, phase 3, randomized, open-label, multicenter study evaluating the efficacy and safety of DARZALEX FASPRO in combination with VRd or VRd alone in patients with NDMM who are transplant ineligible or for whom transplant is not planned as initial therapy (transplant deferred).4 
      • All DARZALEX FASPRO administrations will be in an outpatient setting.23 
    • AQUILA (SMM3001) is an ongoing, phase 3, randomized, open-label, multicenter study evaluating the safety and efficacy of DARZALEX FASPRO versus active monitoring in patients with high-risk smoldering multiple myeloma (HR-SMM).5 
      • All doses of DARZALEX FASPRO will be administered at outpatient visits.24 
  • Among the 7 studies of DARZALEX for IV use summarized below, all doses of DARZALEX were to be administered at outpatient visits per their clinical trial protocols.
    • GEN501 was an open-label, multicenter, dose-escalating (Part 1) and dose-expansion (Part 2) phase 1/2 study assessing the safety of DARZALEX monotherapy in patients with MM who had relapsed after or were refractory to ≥2 prior lines of therapy, including proteasome inhibitors (PIs), immunomodulatory agents, chemotherapy, and ASCT.6
      • All infusions during part 2 of the study were performed as outpatient visits.25
    • SIRIUS (MMY2002) was an open-label, multicenter, international, phase 2 study evaluating the efficacy and safety of DARZALEX monotherapy in patients with MM who have received ≥3 prior lines of therapy, including a PI and an immunomodulatory agent, or have disease refractory to both a PI and an immunomodulatory agent.7
      • All infusions were performed as outpatient visits.26
    • GRIFFIN (MMY2004) was a 2-part, open-label, multicenter, phase 2, randomized, active-controlled study in United States evaluating the safety and efficacy of DARZALEX in combination with VRd in patients with NDMM eligible for high-dose therapy and ASCT.8
      • All infusions were planned as outpatient visits.27
    • POLLUX (MMY3003) was a randomized, open-label, multicenter, phase 3 study evaluating the safety and efficacy of lenalidomide and dexamethasone (Rd) and DARZALEX + Rd in patients with RRMM.9
      • All infusions could be performed as outpatient visits.28
    • CASTOR (MMY3004) was a multicenter, randomized, open-label, active controlled, phase 3 study that evaluated the safety and efficacy of bortezomib and dexamethasone (Vd) alone and DARZALEX + Vd in patients with RRMM.10
      • All infusions were planned as outpatient visits.29
    • CASSIOPEIA (MMY3006) was an open-label, randomized, multicenter, active-controlled study evaluating the safety and efficacy of treatment with bortezomib, thalidomide, and dexamethasone (VTd) alone and DARZALEX + VTd in patients with NDMM eligible for ASCT.11,12
      • In MMY3006, all infusions were planned as outpatient visits.30
    • MAIA (MMY3008) was an international, phase 3, randomized, open-label, active-controlled, multicenter study evaluating the safety and efficacy of DARZALEX in combination with Rd compared to Rd in transplant-ineligible patients with NDMM.13
      • All infusions were planned as outpatient visits.31

CLINICAL DATA

Open-label Study Assessing DARZALEX FASPRO Home Administration

Binder et al (2025)14 reported results from an open-label, single-arm study assessed implementation of home-based administration of DARZALEX FASPRO by a home infusion nurse for patients with MM.

Study Design/Methods

  • Key eligibility criteria: age >18 years, MM diagnosis, received DARZALEX FASPRO monthly either as monotherapy or in combination with oral agents.14
  • Patients received 8 cycles of DARZALEX FASPRO (2 cycles at the infusion center, followed by 4 cycles at home and 2 cycles again at the infusion center).14
    • On the day of at-home treatment, a home infusion nurse assessed vital signs and symptoms and administered the DARZALEX FASPRO injection. No post-administration monitoring was required.
  • Primary endpoint: patients’ treatment satisfaction, assessed using the SWT domain of the Cancer Therapy Satisfaction Questionnaire (CTSQ), when receiving HC vs standard-of-care treatment at the infusion center.14
  • Secondary endpoints: QoL (EORTC QLG Core Questionnaire [EORTC QLQ-C30]), financial burden (COST survey), and other CTSQ domains.14
    • Surveys were completed at each monthly visit, and semistructured qualitative interviews were conducted at the end of the study.

Results

  • From December 2022 to April 2024, 20 patients (mean age, 66 years [range, 49-89]) who were receiving DARZALEX FASPRO monthly as either monotherapy or in combination with oral agents for MM were included in the study.14
    • Ten patients (50%) were female, and 10 patients (50%) identified as Black or African American.
    • One patient withdrew from the trial after cycle 2, and 1 patient came off the trial for cycle 8 after significant treatment delays due to infectious complications.
    • Nineteen patients completed the home infusion portion of the study.
  • No significant difference in satisfaction with treatment assessed by CTSQ-SWT was identified when comparing HC vs treatment at the infusion center (mean difference, 0.70; 95% confidence interval [CI], -3.02 to 1.62; P=0.551).14
    • Feelings about side effects, another variable in the CTSQ, was similar between HC and treatment at the infusion center (mean difference, -1.81; 95% CI, -5.66 to 2.04; P=0.353).
  • For EORTC-QLQ30, global QoL was similar between sites of care (mean difference, -3.21; 95% CI, -8.13 to 1.70; P=0.198).14
    • The EORTC-QLQ30 Physical Functioning score was worse for the HC vs infusion center administration (mean difference, -5.72; 95% CI, -9.81 to -1.62; P=0.007).
    • The EORTC-QLQ30 Emotional Functioning score was similar between sites of care for all participants; post-hoc analysis demonstrated improvement for African American patients compared to Caucasian patients (mean difference, 9.14 [P=0.10]).
  • Females reported a significantly higher financial toxicity compared to males (FACIT-COST score, 7.37 points [P=0.026]).14
  • No barriers to home administration were identified and there were no unique AEs related to home administration.14

Prospective Study Assessing Home-Based Administration of DARZALEX FASPRO

Rosenberg et al (2025)15 reported the results from a prospective, nonrandomized, single-center study that assessed home-based administration of DARZALEX FASPRO by a hematology nurse for patients with relapsed MM.

Study Design/Methods

  • Key eligibility criteria: age ≥ 18 years, relapsed MM receiving DARZALEX FASPRO, able to receive treatment at the hospital or at home or a local healthcare clinic.15
  • Eligible patients were included in one of two groups15:
    • New on DARZALEX FASPRO: first 2 treatments of cycle 1 day 1 (C1D1), cycle 1 day 8 (C1D8), cycle 2 day 1 (C1D1), and day 1 of cycles 3-6 were all administered in the hospital; all other administrations took place at home or a healthcare clinic.
    • Ongoing DARZALEX FASPRO (previously completed at least 6 cycles): cycles 1, 4, and 7 administered in the hospital and cycles 2, 3, 5, and 6 administered at home or a healthcare clinic.
  • Patients completed a custom-built questionnaire after exiting the study and hematology nurses recorded demographic information, treatment adherence, and time spent on treatment days.15

Results

  • A total of 30 patients (median age, 78 years [range, 61-87]) were enrolled between March 2022 and June 2023.15
    • Eighteen patients (60%) were male, 12 patients (40%) were new on DARZALEX FASPRO, and 16 patients (54%) were on DARZALEX FASPRO monotherapy.  
  • Of the 269 planned DARZALEX FASPRO administrations, 255 were given (84.8%).15
    • Of the 125 hospital-planned administrations, 122 (97.6%) were given and 3 were cancelled due to infection (n=2) and disease progression (n=1).
    • Of the 144 home or clinic administrations, 133 (92.4%) were given as planned, 6 were redirected and given at the hospital (2 due to suspicion of infection and 4 for administrative reasons), and 5 were cancelled due to infection (n=3) and nausea and diarrhea (n=2).
  • On average, patients saved 177 minutes per administration given at home (29 minutes [range, 5-120]) vs the hospital (206 minutes [range, 135-345]).15
    • When deducting time for transportation to the hospital (104 minutes [range, 35-258]), time spent for patients treated at home was reduced by a factor of 3.5.
  • Hematology nurses spent an average of 3 additional minutes on each administration at home vs at the hospital.15
  • The number of unplanned health contacts did not differ significantly between home/clinic and hospital administrations.15
  • Overall, 84% of patients preferred to continue with home treatment after the study.15
  • Based on the qualitative analysis, home treatment was not preferable for all patients, as some found staying at home waiting for the treatment to be delivered and for the primary care nurse to be bothersome.15

Experience with DARZALEX FASPRO Home Administration in Frail Patients

De Angelis et al (2025)16 reported experiences with DARZALEX FASPRO administered by a nurse or physician to frail patients with MM in an outpatient setting.

Methods

  • Patients received 2 initial doses of DARZALEX or DARZALEX FASPRO at a hospital to mitigate side effects and received subsequent doses as outpatients. The first outpatient dose was administered by both a nurse and a physician, whereas subsequent doses were administered by nurses only.16,17

Results

Baseline Patient Characteristics
  • A total of 28 patients were treated in the outpatient setting and 312 at-home administrations of DARZALEX FASPRO were performed.16
  • Baseline patient characteristics are summarized in Table: Baseline Characteristics.16

Baseline Characteristics16
Characteristics
All Enrolled
(N=28)

Median age (IQR), years
76.3 (66.9-81.3)
Sex, n (%)
   Male
10 (35.7)
   Female
18 (64.3)
Reason for home management, n (%)
   Disease complicationsa
14 (50.0)
   Age >80 years
8 (28.6)
   Long distance from hospital and/or poor social conditions
6 (21.4)
Distance from DHCU to patient’s home, n (%)
   <10 km
13 (46.4)
   ≥10 to <30 km
2 (7.2)
   ≥30 km
13 (46.4)
Treatment schedule, n (%)
   D-Rd
12 (42.9)
   D-VTd
7 (25.0)
   D-VMP
5 (17.8)
   D-Vd
4 (14.3)
Line of therapy, n (%)
   First-line
15 (53.6)
   Second-line or subsequent
13 (46.4)
Abbreviations: DHCU, Domiciliary Hematologic Care Unit; D-Rd, DARZALEX FASPRO + lenalidomide + dexamethasone; D-Vd, DARZALEX FASPRO + bortezomib + dexamethasone; D-VMP, DARZALEX FASPRO + bortezomib + melphalan + prednisone; D-VTd, DARZALEX FASPRO + bortezomib + thalidomide + dexamethasone; IQR, interquartile range.
aIncluding bone lesions/fractures secondary to multiple myeloma.

Efficacy
  • Among the 24 patients evaluable for response, the ORR was 70.8%. Details are summarized in Table: Response Rates.16

Response Rates16
Parameter
Evaluable Patients
(n=24)

ORR, %
70.8
   CR, n
4
      sCR
2
   VGPR, n
11
   PR, n
2
SD, n
4
PD, n
3
Abbreviations: CR, complete remission; ORR, overall response rate; PD, progressive disease; PR, partial remission; sCR, stringent complete remission; SD, stable disease; VGPR, very good partial remission.
  • The median overall survival (OS) from the start of home management was 35.3 months (95% CI, 18.5-59.2).16
Safety
  • Of the 28 patients treated with DARZALEX FASPRO at home, the main AE that occurred was infection (pneumonia [n=4], fever of unknown origin [n=1]).16
  • During and/or immediately following home administration, 1 patient experienced a grade 2 allergic reaction (per World Health Organization classification) and DARZALEX FASPRO was permanently discontinued.16
  • At the last follow-up, 10 patients died (PD, n=6; cardiological diseases, n=2; liver disease, n=1; evolution in acute myelogenous leukemia, n=1).16

Literature Search

A literature search of MEDLINE®, EMBASE®, BIOSIS Previews®, and DERWENT® Drug File databases (and/or other resources, including internal/external databases) was conducted on 20 March 2026 pertaining to this topic.

 

References

1 MV Mateos, H Nahi, W Legiec, et al. Subcutaneous versus intravenous daratumumab in patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma (COLUMBA): a multicentre, open-label, non-inferiority, randomised, phase 3 trial. Lancet Haematol. 2020;7:e370-e380.  
2 Kastritis E, Palladini G, Minnema M, et al. Daratumumab-based treatment for immunoglobulin light-chain amyloidosis. N Engl J Med. 2021;385(1):46-58.  
3 Sonneveld P, Dimopoulos MA, Boccadoro M, et al. Daratumumab, bortezomib, lenalidomide, and dexamethasone for multiple myeloma. N Engl J Med. 2024;390(4):301-313.  
4 Usmani S, Facon T, Hungria V, et al. Daratumumab plus bortezomib, lenalidomide and dexamethasone for transplant-ineligible or transplant-deferred newly diagnosed multiple myeloma: the randomized phase 3 CEPHEUS trial. Nat Med. 2025;31(4):1195-1202.  
5 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.  
6 Lokhorst H, Plesner T, Laubach J, et al. Targeting CD38 with daratumumab monotherapy in multiple myeloma. N Engl J Med. 2015;373(13):1207-1219.  
7 Lonial S, Weiss BM, Usmani SZ, et al. Daratumumab monotherapy in patients with treatment-refractory multiple myeloma (SIRIUS): an open-label, randomised, phase 2 trial. Lancet. 2016;387(10027):1551-1560.  
8 Voorhees PM, Kaufman JL, Laubach J, et al. Daratumumab, lenalidomide, bortezomib, and dexamethasone for transplant-eligible newly diagnosed multiple myeloma: the GRIFFIN trial. Blood. 2020;136(8):936-945.  
9 Dimopoulos M, Oriol A, Nahi H, et al. Daratumumab, lenalidomide, and dexamethasone for multiple myeloma. N Engl J Med. 2016;375(14):1319-1331.  
10 Palumbo A, Chanan-Khan A, Weisel K, et al. Daratumumab, bortezomib, and dexamethasone for multiple myeloma. N Engl J Med. 2016;375(8):754-766.  
11 Moreau P, Attal M, Hulin C, et al. Bortezomib, thalidomide, and dexamethasone with or without daratumumab before and after autologous stem-cell transplantation for newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (CASSIOPEIA): a randomised, open-label, phase 3 study. Lancet. 2019;394:29-38.  
12 Moreau P, Hulin C, Perrot A, et al. Maintenance with daratumumab or observation following treatment with bortezomib, thalidomide, and dexamethasone with or without daratumumab and autologous stem-cell transplant in patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (CASSIOPEIA): an open-label, randomised, phase 3 trial. Lancet Oncol. 2021;22(10):1378-1390.  
13 Facon T, Kumar S, Plesner T, et al. Daratumumab plus lenalidomide and dexamethasone for untreated myeloma. N Engl J Med. 2019;380(22):2104-2115.  
14 Binder AF, Cohen A, Schoenberg M, et al. Open-label, single-arm study to assess the implementation of and patient experience with home-based daratumumab administration in patients being treated for multiple myeloma. BMJ Connect Oncol. 2025;2(1):e000043.  
15 Rosenberg T, Kirkegaard J, Gundesen MT, et al. Home‐based daratumumab in patients with multiple myeloma. Eur J Haematol. 2025;115(1):72-81.  
16 De Angelis G, Fazio F, Trapè G, et al. Subcutaneous daratumumab at home is a safe and effective procedure allowing active treatment of frail patients with multiple myeloma. Blood. 2025;146(suppl 1):2806-2806.  
17 De Angelis G, Fiorini A, Trapè G, et al. Subcutaneous daratumumab at home is a safe and effective procedure for frail patients with multiple myeloma: a myelhome project report. Abstract presented at: 65th American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting and Exposition; December 9-12, 2023; San Diego, CA, USA.  
18 Odense University Hospital. Self-administered Subcutaneous Daratumumab in Patients With Multiple Myeloma. An Open Label, Phase Four, Prospective, Non-randomized, Sponsor-initiated Multicenter Feasibility Study. In: ClinicalTrials.gov [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): National Library of Medicine (US). 2000- [cited 2026 September 18]. Available from: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT07191379 NLM Identifier: NCT07191379.  
19 Asra A, Pillidge Z, Clark A, et al. Modelling time and costs associated with daratumumab treatment delivery in the home care setting versus the hospital in Spain to understand potential benefits to patients and hospitals. Poster presented at: The Professional Society for Health Economics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR); November 6-9, 2022; Vienna, Austria.  
20 Data on File. Clinical Protocol 54767414MMY3012. Janssen Research & Development, LLC. EDMS-ERI-137065766; 2020.  
21 Kastritis E, Palladini G, Minnema MC, et al. Protocol for: Daratumumab-based treatment for immunoglobulin light-chain amyloidosis. N Engl J Med. 2021;385(1):46-58.  
22 Sonneveld P, Dimopoulos MA, Boccadoro M, et al. Protocol for: Daratumumab, Bortezomib, Lenalidomide, and Dexamethasone for Multiple Myeloma. N Engl J Med. 2024;390:301-313.  
23 Data on File. Clinical Protocol 54767414MMY3019. Janssen Research & Development, LLC. EDMS-ERI-160761684; 2024.  
24 Dimopoulos MA, Voorhees PM, Schjesvold F, et al. Protocol for: Daratumumab or active monitoring for high-risk smoldering multiple myeloma. N Engl J Med. 2024;392:1777-1788.  
25 Lokhorst H, Plesner T, Laubach J, et al. Protocol for: Targeting CD38 with daratumumab monotherapy in multiple myeloma. N Eng J Med. 2015;373(13):1207-1219.  
26 Data on File. Clinical Protocol 54767414MMY2002. Janssen Research & Development, LLC. EDMS-ERI-53850917, 7.0; 2015.  
27 Data on File. Clinical Protocol 54767414MMY2004. Janssen Research & Development, LLC. EDMS-ERI-101884947; 2020.  
28 Dimopoulos MA, Oriol A, Nahi H, et al. Protocol for: Daratumumab, lenalidomide, and dexamethasone for multiple myeloma. N Engl J Med. 2016;375(14):1319-1331.  
29 Data on File. Clinical Protocol 54767414MMY3004. Janssen Research & Development, LLC. EDMS-ERI-76779402; 2021.  
30 Data on File. Clinical Protocol 54767414MMY3006. Janssen Research & Development, LLC. EDMS-ERI-86383188; 2021.  
31 Facon T, Kumar S, Plesner T, et al. Protocol for: Daratumumab plus lenalidomide and dexamethasone for untreated myeloma. N Engl J Med. 2019;380(22):2104-2115.  

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