Richardson joined the Jerome Lipper Myeloma Center in , was appointed Clinical Director in , and led the study and development of several pivotal novel drugs including thalidomide, lenalidomide, bortezomib, pomalidomide, panobinostat, daratumumab, elotuzumab, and ixazomib. In this context, Dr. Subsequent studies have focused on newer novel drugs including various small molecules, such as the third-generation proteasome inhibitor marizomib, next-generation monoclonal antibodies, histone deacetylase inhibitors, other small molecule inhibitors, targeted cytotoxics, and evolving strategies for new immunomodulatory therapy, including the groundbreaking oral CelMoD mezigdomide, all with the goal of further improving patient outcomes.
Recent approvals have included selinexor , isatuximab , belantamab mafodotin , and melflufen , for all which Dr. Richardson has had a leadership role in clinical development, as well as contributions to the successful translation of these therapeutic agents from bench to bedside.
Richardson's senior investigator role in the VISTA trial comparing bortezomib in combination with melphalan and prednisone versus melphalan and prednisone alone as part of an international Phase 3 trial established bortezomib, melphalan, and prednisone as a new treatment standard in newly diagnosed patients not eligible for stem cell transplant in and supported FDA approval for bortezomib as treatment in frontline therapy.
Other subsequent large Phase 3 studies in which Dr. Richardson has had a leadership role as principal investigator include OPTIMISM, an international study in relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma comparing the combination of pomalidomide, bortezomib, and dexamethasone PVd to bortezomib and dexamethasone Vd as a control.
This study demonstrated an impressive progression-free survival advantage to the combination of PVd compared to Vd and led to its regulatory approval globally. Similarly, Dr. Richardson led as co-principal investigator the Phase 3, international ICARIA study comparing Isatuximab, pomalidomide, and dexamethasone IsaPd to pomalidomide and dexamethasone Pd in relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma. This showed a highly significant and clinically meaningful progression-free survival benefit for IsaPd compared to the control and resulted in FDA and EMA approval for the triplet combination in In the treatment of newly diagnosed multiple myeloma, building on the success of the triplet regimen RVd, Dr.
