OBJECTIVES: New treatment options for relapsed refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM), such as combination regimens including proteasome inhibitors (PIs), are constantly evolving. However, no study has been conducted to elucidate patient preferences regarding different novel treatment options for RRMM so far.

METHODS: A cross-sectional multicentre study based on computer-assisted telephone or face-to-face interviews with RRMM patients was undertaken. A Discrete-Choice-Experiment (DCE) with four attributes (drug administration: application 1 (tablet once/day+once/week, 2-hour physician visit once/month), application 2 (tablet once/day+twice/week, 2-hour physician visit once/month) or application 3 (tablet once/day+once/week, physician visit twice/week lasting 3-4 hours incl. infusion); time without disease progression: 26/20/17 months; possibility of side effects affecting the blood: 12%/19% probability; possibility of heart failure: 2%/4%) was implemented. Preferences were analysed based on conditional logit regression models.

RESULTS: Analysis was conducted for 84 patients (mean age: 62.75 years; 63.10% male; mean disease duration: 5.51 years). Drug administration was the most important attribute for patients’ choices (relative importance 38.83%). Patients strongly preferred application 1 (utility: 1.79; p<0.001), followed by application 2 (1.46; p<0.001), both compared to application 3. The second most important attribute was disease-progression-free time (38.63%) with utilities of 1.78 for 26 months (p<0.001) and 0.81 for 20 months (p<0.001), both compared to 17 months. Possibility of heart failure occurrence had an importance of 13.92% (utility of 2% vs. 4%: 0.64; p<0.001), and possibility of side effects affecting the blood had the lowest importance (8.62%; utility of 12% vs. 19%: 0.40; p<0.001). Derived utilities for currently available RRMM treatment options were 3.21 for Ixazomib+Lenalidomide+Dexamethasone, 2.75 for Lenalidomide+Dexamethasone and 1.89 for Carfilzomib+Lenalidomide+Dexamethasone.

CONCLUSIONS: RRMM patients prefer treatment options with an all-oral application mode, a longer disease-progression-free time and a lower probability of side effects. In order to receive a more convenient therapy, patients are willing to accept slightly less efficacy.