Posted On: 13 Mar 2026
Findings support the potential of HaemaLogiX’s KappaMab and KMCAR™ cell immunotherapies, the only therapies globally that precisely target KMA-positive myeloma
- HaemaLogiX identified two novel antigens, kappa myeloma antigen (KMA) and lambda myeloma antigen (LMA)
- KMA and LMA are expressed in all forms of plasma cell dyscrasia (with multiple myeloma being the largest type) but are not found on normal plasma cells
- KMA and LMA can be uniquely targeted by HaemaLogiX's human monoclonal antibodies, KappaMab and LambdaMab
- KMA and LMA may be valuable therapeutic targets for antibody and cellular based immunotherapy approaches in the treatment of plasma cell dyscrasias.
- HaemaLogiX’s in-development assets could enhance the potency and lower the toxicity of pre-existing multiple myeloma treatments, which can drive increased expression of KMA and LMA
Sydney, Australia, 13 March 2025: New research published in the Clinical Lymphoma, Myeloma & Leukemia journal has confirmed that Kappa Myeloma Antigen (KMA) and Lambda Myeloma Antigen (LMA) are promising therapeutic targets for the treatment of multiple myeloma, which is the second most common form of blood cancer.
These antigens are present on malignant plasma cells but absent on normal plasma cells, meaning that any therapeutics which target them could prove capable of precisely treating multiple myeloma as well as a broad spectrum of other plasma-cell disorders.
The study – sponsored by Australian biotech company HaemaLogiX in partnership with internationally recognised clinical experts from Sydney University/ The University of Melbourne is titled: “Expression of Kappa Myeloma Antigen (KMA) and Lambda Myeloma Antigen (LMA) on Malignant but Not Normal Plasma Cells Offers Novel Therapeutic Targets for Patients With Myeloma, Amyloidosis and Other Plasma Cell Dyscrasias.”
The study demonstrated that KMA and LMA are consistently expressed across the disease spectrum – from early pre-malignant stages such as monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) through to treated myeloma – and they increase as the disease progresses. This makes them highly specific, reliable markers for detecting myeloma plasma cells and particularly attractive targets for next-generation antibody and cell-based immunotherapies.
Dr Rosanne Dunn, Co-Founder, Executive Director and CSO at HaemaLogiX, said the findings strongly validate the company’s scientific and clinical strategy of advancing KMA- and LMA-directed immunotherapies, with the aim of delivering safer, more effective treatment options.
“This study confirms that patients with kappa-type myeloma (70%) are likely to express KMA and those with lambda-type (30%) disease are likely to express LMA, establishing relevant targets for our immunotherapies that are currently in clinical and preclinical development,” said Dr Dunn. “We are advancing KappaMab, which targets KMA, in a Phase 2b clinical trial in patients whose disease is relapsing after treatment with three classes of drug. Previous clinical studies with KappaMab have shown that the antibody does not cause damage to normal immune cells and it was highly effective in combination with Revlimid and dexamethasone, which are commonly used in the treatment of myeloma. The KMA targeted CAR-T cell is currently progressing to a phase I clinical trial in relapsed/refractory myeloma patients. Our immunotherapies represent a differentiated and potentially transformative toolkit that offers efficacy with fewer side effects which may improve patients' quality of life.”
Professor David Gottlieb, a member of HaemaLogiX’s Scientific Advisory Board and anchor author on the paper, said the findings represent a critical advance for patients with multiple myeloma and other plasma cell dyscrasias (PCDs).
“The identification of KMA and LMA present from the earliest stages of disease and increasing with the transition to myeloma, provides compelling evidence for these antigens to be used as targets for immunotherapies. Because they are selectively expressed on malignant and not on normal plasma cells, they offer an opportunity to treat patients with greater precision and with less damage to the normal immune system. Importantly, standard therapies such as Revlimid® can further boost KMA and LMA expression, meaning combining HaemaLogiX’s treatments with this standard therapy could deliver enhanced responses,” Professor Gottlieb said.
Current therapies targeting BCMA, CD38 and SLAM7 dominate the US$27 billion multiple myeloma market, but these targets are found on both healthy and malignant cells, resulting in cumulative immune system depletion and an increased risk of life-threatening infections.
Professor Simon Harrison, Director of the Centre of Excellence for Cellular Immunotherapy at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and a co-author on the paper, said the findings broaden the opportunity for HaemaLogiX’s platform.
“These results open new pathways for both antibody and cell-based immunotherapies, significantly expanding HaemaLogiX’s potential to address a wide range of PCDs. The ability to selectively target cancer cells - while avoiding normal B cells - creates a unique opportunity to improve efficacy without adding toxicity. This finding holds real promise for patients with multiple myeloma and other plasma cell dyscrasias, many of whom currently have no curative treatment options.”
By targeting KMA and LMA specifically, HaemaLogiX’s therapies aim to enhance the effectiveness of existing treatments while minimising immune system damage, reducing side effects and infection risk. Their tumour-restricted nature makes them particularly well suited for targeted treatment at all stages of myeloma disease, including relapsed or refractory patients whose previous therapies have lost effectiveness and depleted normal plasma cells.
ENDS
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