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How effective is Ninlaro (ixazomib)?

Medically reviewed by Melisa Puckey, BPharm. Last updated on April 4, 2025.

Official Answer by Drugs.com

Ninlaro (ixazomib) is an oral targeted therapy anticancer drug that is used in combination with lenalidomide (Revlimid) and dexamethasone to treat multiple myeloma (MM).

Clinical trials have been completed using combination treatment of Ninlaro, lenalidomide (Revlimid) and dexamethasone against the combination treatment of placebo, lenalidomide (Revlimid) and dexamethasone.

How effective is Ninlaro?

Clinical trials have shown that Ninlaro is more effective than the medicines it was trialed against, in treating multiple myeloma.

How long does it take to get a first response from treatment?

Time for response was faster in the Ninlaro group compared to the placebo group.

Ninlaro Treatment Group (median) Placebo treatment Group (median) Difference Between Groups (median)
Time for response 1.1 month 1.9 months 0.8 month (approx 24 days) faster response for Ninlaro group

Time to first progression of Multiple Myeloma

Ninlaro treatment was more effective at delaying the progression of multiple myeloma compared to the placebo group. The time delay to first progression in the Ninlaro group was:

Time delay to first progression of illness (median) Ninlaro Treatment Group (median) Placebo treatment Group (median) Difference Between Groups (delay to first progression of illness median )
All patients 20.6 months 14.7 months 5.9 months longer delay in Ninlaro group
High risk cytogenetic patients 21.4 months 9.7 months 11.7 months longer delay in Ninlaro group
Patients with stage III disease 18.4 months 10.1 months 8.3 months longer delay in Ninlaro group
Patients older than 75 years old 18.5 months 13.1 months 5.4 months months longer delay in Ninlaro group

Patients had a higher positive response to treatment

Positive response to treatment was a higher in the Ninlaro group compared to placebo group

Level of positive response to treatment

How well someone responds to treatment can be divided into four levels.

The best level is complete response, then very good partial response, partial response and then no response (or relapse of illness) which is the worst response.

The Ninlaro group had the best levels of response compared to placebo

Level of Positive Response to Treatment Ninlaro Treatment Group Placebo treatment Group Difference Between Groups
Overall response rate 78% 72% 6% more in responders in Ninlaro group
Complete response 12% 7% 5% more patients in the Ninlaro group had a complete response
Very good partial response 36% 32% 4% more in the Ninlaro group had very good partial response
Partial response 30% 33% 3% more of the placebo group had a partial response
No response or relapse of MM 22% 28% 6% more of the placebo group had no response or relapse

Is Ninlaro (ixazomib) an approved medicine by the FDA?

Bottom line:

Ninlaro was more effective than the medicines it was trialed against, as it:

References

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