Model‐Based Meta‐Analysis for Multiple Myeloma: A Quantitative Drug‐Independent Framework for Efficient Decisions in Oncology Drug Development

The failure rate for phase III trials in oncology is high; quantitative predictive approaches are needed. We developed a model-based meta-analysis (MBMA) framework to predict progression-free survival (PFS) from overall response rates (ORR) in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM), using data from seven phase III trials. A Bayesian analysis was used to predict the probability of technical success (PTS) for achieving desired phase III PFS targets based on phase II ORR data. The model demonstrated a strongly correlated (R2 = 0.84) linear relationship between ORR and median PFS. As a representative application of the framework, MBMA predicted that an ORR of ∼66% would be needed in a phase II study of 50 patients to achieve a target median PFS of 13.5 months in a phase III study. This model can be used to help estimate PTS to achieve gold-standard targets in a target product profile, thereby enabling objectively informed decision-making.