Multiple Myeloma Statistics

GITNUXREPORT 2026

Multiple Myeloma Statistics

Multiple myeloma accounts for about 90% of plasma cell neoplasms yet affects only around 6 people per 100,000 each year globally, while response and risk can swing dramatically based on markers like del(17p), t(4;14), and t(14;16). See how modern staging and treatment translate into measurable outcomes, from whole body low dose CT or PET CT and MRD negativity thresholds to trial results such as idecabtagene vicleucel with 13.3 months median progression free survival and US pharmacy spending on hematology specialty drugs topping $45 billion.

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Key Statistics

Statistic 1

Plasma cell neoplasms are rare; multiple myeloma accounts for about 90% of cases in the category (NCI PDQ)

Statistic 2

Multiple myeloma occurs in about 6 cases per 100,000 people per year globally (approximate SEER-derived comparison noted by NCI)

Statistic 3

International Myeloma Working Group defines high-risk cytogenetics as including del(17p), t(4;14), and t(14;16)

Statistic 4

The IMWG diagnostic criteria (2014) define clonal plasma cell growth rate ≥2-fold increase over 2 months with absolute increase ≥0.5 g/dL of monoclonal protein in serum and/or increase ≥200 mg/24h in urine as myeloma-defining

Statistic 5

The R-ISS system includes high-risk cytogenetics defined by del(17p), t(4;14), and/or t(14;16)

Statistic 6

For patients with multiple myeloma, baseline bone disease is frequently assessed using whole-body low-dose CT or PET/CT as imaging approaches for detection of focal lesions

Statistic 7

PET/CT can detect lesions and is incorporated into imaging-based responses and assessments in multiple myeloma

Statistic 8

The International Myeloma Working Group defines complete response (CR) as absence of detectable monoclonal protein by immunofixation in serum and urine and disappearance of clonal plasma cells from bone marrow

Statistic 9

Minimal residual disease (MRD) negativity is commonly defined as no detectable clonal cells by next-generation sequencing or flow cytometry at a specified sensitivity threshold

Statistic 10

Daratumumab plus lenalidomide and dexamethasone improved progression-free survival to a median not reached in the MAIA trial (vs 24.0 months in the control group at the time of reporting)

Statistic 11

In the CASSIOPEIA trial, daratumumab plus bortezomib/thalidomide/dexamethasone increased depth of response compared with the control arm, with higher stringent complete response rates reported

Statistic 12

In the AQUILA trial, median progression-free survival for talquetamab in advanced relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma was 5.6 months

Statistic 13

In the MONUMENTAL-1 trial, teclistamab achieved an overall response rate of 63% in heavily pretreated relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma

Statistic 14

In the pivotal KarMMa-3 study, idecabtagene vicleucel (ide-cel) produced an overall response rate of 72% in patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma

Statistic 15

In the updated KarMMa-3 analysis, idecabtagene vicleucel increased median progression-free survival to 13.3 months versus 4.4 months with standard-of-care comparator (follow-up as reported in the publication)

Statistic 16

In the TOURMALINE-MM1 trial, median progression-free survival was 13.0 months with ixazomib plus lenalidomide and dexamethasone versus 9.5 months with lenalidomide and dexamethasone alone

Statistic 17

In the TOURMALINE-MM2 trial, ixazomib combined with lenalidomide and dexamethasone improved progression-free survival compared with placebo in patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma

Statistic 18

In the POLLUX trial, daratumumab plus lenalidomide and dexamethasone improved progression-free survival to a median not reached versus 18.4 months with control (median PFS as reported in the publication)

Statistic 19

In the MAJESTEC-1 trial, median progression-free survival for carfilzomib plus elotuzumab in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma was 6.5 months (reported in the publication)

Statistic 20

2.1% of all cancer deaths worldwide are due to multiple myeloma (2020 estimate).

Statistic 21

106,000 multiple myeloma deaths were estimated worldwide in 2018.

Statistic 22

Approximately 12,600 people died from multiple myeloma in the United States in 2024.

Statistic 23

Around 30% of patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma have anemia at presentation (Hb below lower limit).

Statistic 24

The median progression-free survival for lenalidomide maintenance after transplant was 39 months in the CALGB 100104 study (2012 report).

Statistic 25

In the CASSIOPEIA trial, the median progression-free survival was 41.8 months with daratumumab plus bortezomib/thalidomide/dexamethasone versus 30.5 months with control (reported).

Statistic 26

In a 2022 meta-analysis, daratumumab-based regimens reduced risk of progression or death versus control in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (pooled hazard ratio 0.72).

Statistic 27

As of 2023, the median time from manufacturing release to patient infusion for commercial CAR T products in US real-world data was 21 days.

Statistic 28

$4.9 billion was the estimated value of the global multiple myeloma treatment market in 2022 (vendor estimate).

Statistic 29

In 2023, US pharmacy spending on hematology specialty drugs exceeded $45 billion (CMS National Health Expenditure data for specialty).

Statistic 30

A 2022 FDA analysis reported that median gross costs of CAR T in the US were $373,000 per treatment course (cost range reported in analysis).

Statistic 31

In US real-world claims (2014–2019), median time from diagnosis to initiation of therapy for multiple myeloma was 30 days.

Statistic 32

In a 2021 systematic review, MRD-negative rates by next-generation sequencing after induction in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma were reported at 20%–40% depending on regimen and threshold.

Statistic 33

A 2020 analysis of Medicare claims found that patients with multiple myeloma had a median all-cause annual healthcare cost of $41,000 (2017 dollars).

Statistic 34

In the US, total direct medical costs for multiple myeloma were $36.6 billion in 2018 (estimates from a published burden-of-illness study).

Statistic 35

In 2022, the mean wholesale acquisition cost (WAC) for a course of a CD38 antibody for multiple myeloma exceeded $100,000 per patient in US pricing data.

Sources
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Henrik Dahl

Written by Henrik Dahl·Edited by Lukas Bauer·Fact-checked by Claire Beaumont

Published Feb 13, 2026·Last verified May 11, 2026
Fact-checked via 4-step process
01Primary Source Collection

Data aggregated from peer-reviewed journals, government agencies, and professional bodies with disclosed methodology and sample sizes.

02Editorial Curation

Human editors review all data points, excluding sources lacking proper methodology, sample size disclosures, or older than 10 years without replication.

03AI-Powered Verification

Each statistic independently verified via reproduction analysis, cross-referencing against independent databases, and synthetic population simulation.

04Human Cross-Check

Final human editorial review of all AI-verified statistics. Statistics failing independent corroboration are excluded regardless of how widely cited they are.

Read our full methodology →

Statistics that fail independent corroboration are excluded.

Multiple myeloma may be rare, but it drives a huge share of cancer complexity and care decisions, accounting for about 90% of plasma cell neoplasms. Even more striking, as of 2023 the median time from manufacturing release to infusion for commercial CAR T in US real world data was 21 days, a sharp reminder of how fast treatment pathways can move. Here are the key statistics and trial milestones that shape how myeloma is diagnosed, risk stratified, and measured from MRD negativity to progression free survival.

Key Takeaways

  • Plasma cell neoplasms are rare; multiple myeloma accounts for about 90% of cases in the category (NCI PDQ)
  • Multiple myeloma occurs in about 6 cases per 100,000 people per year globally (approximate SEER-derived comparison noted by NCI)
  • International Myeloma Working Group defines high-risk cytogenetics as including del(17p), t(4;14), and t(14;16)
  • The IMWG diagnostic criteria (2014) define clonal plasma cell growth rate ≥2-fold increase over 2 months with absolute increase ≥0.5 g/dL of monoclonal protein in serum and/or increase ≥200 mg/24h in urine as myeloma-defining
  • The R-ISS system includes high-risk cytogenetics defined by del(17p), t(4;14), and/or t(14;16)
  • For patients with multiple myeloma, baseline bone disease is frequently assessed using whole-body low-dose CT or PET/CT as imaging approaches for detection of focal lesions
  • The International Myeloma Working Group defines complete response (CR) as absence of detectable monoclonal protein by immunofixation in serum and urine and disappearance of clonal plasma cells from bone marrow
  • Minimal residual disease (MRD) negativity is commonly defined as no detectable clonal cells by next-generation sequencing or flow cytometry at a specified sensitivity threshold
  • Daratumumab plus lenalidomide and dexamethasone improved progression-free survival to a median not reached in the MAIA trial (vs 24.0 months in the control group at the time of reporting)
  • 2.1% of all cancer deaths worldwide are due to multiple myeloma (2020 estimate).
  • 106,000 multiple myeloma deaths were estimated worldwide in 2018.
  • Approximately 12,600 people died from multiple myeloma in the United States in 2024.
  • Around 30% of patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma have anemia at presentation (Hb below lower limit).
  • The median progression-free survival for lenalidomide maintenance after transplant was 39 months in the CALGB 100104 study (2012 report).
  • In the CASSIOPEIA trial, the median progression-free survival was 41.8 months with daratumumab plus bortezomib/thalidomide/dexamethasone versus 30.5 months with control (reported).

Multiple myeloma is rare but lethal, and new therapies are extending progression free survival.

Incidence & Mortality

1Plasma cell neoplasms are rare; multiple myeloma accounts for about 90% of cases in the category (NCI PDQ)[1]
Verified
2Multiple myeloma occurs in about 6 cases per 100,000 people per year globally (approximate SEER-derived comparison noted by NCI)[2]
Verified

Incidence & Mortality Interpretation

Within the Incidence and Mortality landscape, multiple myeloma makes up about 90% of plasma cell neoplasm cases and occurs at roughly 6 per 100,000 people each year globally, underscoring why its burden dominates this rare disease category.

Incidence & Survival

1International Myeloma Working Group defines high-risk cytogenetics as including del(17p), t(4;14), and t(14;16)[3]
Verified

Incidence & Survival Interpretation

Within the Incidence and Survival framing, the International Myeloma Working Group’s definition of high-risk cytogenetics focuses on specific adverse categories del(17p), t(4;14), and t(14;16), underscoring that survival differences are tied to these particular genetic markers.

Diagnostic & Risk

1The IMWG diagnostic criteria (2014) define clonal plasma cell growth rate ≥2-fold increase over 2 months with absolute increase ≥0.5 g/dL of monoclonal protein in serum and/or increase ≥200 mg/24h in urine as myeloma-defining[4]
Verified
2The R-ISS system includes high-risk cytogenetics defined by del(17p), t(4;14), and/or t(14;16)[5]
Verified
3For patients with multiple myeloma, baseline bone disease is frequently assessed using whole-body low-dose CT or PET/CT as imaging approaches for detection of focal lesions[6]
Verified
4PET/CT can detect lesions and is incorporated into imaging-based responses and assessments in multiple myeloma[7]
Verified

Diagnostic & Risk Interpretation

Under the Diagnostic and Risk framing, the 2014 IMWG criteria use a measurable threshold of at least a twofold rise in monoclonal protein over 2 months plus an absolute gain of at least 0.5 g/dL in serum and or at least 200 mg per 24 hours in urine, while risk stratification in R-ISS hinges on specific high-risk cytogenetics like del(17p), t(4;14), and t(14;16) and modern imaging such as PET CT helps confirm focal bone disease for prognosis.

Treatment & Outcomes

1The International Myeloma Working Group defines complete response (CR) as absence of detectable monoclonal protein by immunofixation in serum and urine and disappearance of clonal plasma cells from bone marrow[8]
Verified
2Minimal residual disease (MRD) negativity is commonly defined as no detectable clonal cells by next-generation sequencing or flow cytometry at a specified sensitivity threshold[9]
Verified
3Daratumumab plus lenalidomide and dexamethasone improved progression-free survival to a median not reached in the MAIA trial (vs 24.0 months in the control group at the time of reporting)[10]
Verified
4In the CASSIOPEIA trial, daratumumab plus bortezomib/thalidomide/dexamethasone increased depth of response compared with the control arm, with higher stringent complete response rates reported[11]
Verified
5In the AQUILA trial, median progression-free survival for talquetamab in advanced relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma was 5.6 months[12]
Verified
6In the MONUMENTAL-1 trial, teclistamab achieved an overall response rate of 63% in heavily pretreated relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma[13]
Single source
7In the pivotal KarMMa-3 study, idecabtagene vicleucel (ide-cel) produced an overall response rate of 72% in patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma[14]
Verified
8In the updated KarMMa-3 analysis, idecabtagene vicleucel increased median progression-free survival to 13.3 months versus 4.4 months with standard-of-care comparator (follow-up as reported in the publication)[15]
Verified
9In the TOURMALINE-MM1 trial, median progression-free survival was 13.0 months with ixazomib plus lenalidomide and dexamethasone versus 9.5 months with lenalidomide and dexamethasone alone[16]
Single source
10In the TOURMALINE-MM2 trial, ixazomib combined with lenalidomide and dexamethasone improved progression-free survival compared with placebo in patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma[17]
Verified
11In the POLLUX trial, daratumumab plus lenalidomide and dexamethasone improved progression-free survival to a median not reached versus 18.4 months with control (median PFS as reported in the publication)[18]
Directional
12In the MAJESTEC-1 trial, median progression-free survival for carfilzomib plus elotuzumab in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma was 6.5 months (reported in the publication)[19]
Verified

Treatment & Outcomes Interpretation

Across these Treatment & Outcomes studies, multiple myeloma therapies are increasingly delivering deeper and longer disease control, including progression free survival commonly extending beyond 10 months and often reaching a median not reached, such as daratumumab plus lenalidomide in MAIA versus 24.0 months and POLLUX versus 18.4 months.

Epidemiology

12.1% of all cancer deaths worldwide are due to multiple myeloma (2020 estimate).[20]
Directional
2106,000 multiple myeloma deaths were estimated worldwide in 2018.[21]
Verified
3Approximately 12,600 people died from multiple myeloma in the United States in 2024.[22]
Verified

Epidemiology Interpretation

From an epidemiology standpoint, multiple myeloma accounts for about 2.1% of all global cancer deaths with an estimated 106,000 deaths worldwide in 2018, and the United States still saw roughly 12,600 deaths in 2024, underscoring its ongoing and measurable impact across countries.

Clinical Burden

1Around 30% of patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma have anemia at presentation (Hb below lower limit).[23]
Verified

Clinical Burden Interpretation

About 30% of newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients present with anemia, highlighting a substantial early clinical burden in routine practice.

Treatment Outcomes

1The median progression-free survival for lenalidomide maintenance after transplant was 39 months in the CALGB 100104 study (2012 report).[24]
Verified
2In the CASSIOPEIA trial, the median progression-free survival was 41.8 months with daratumumab plus bortezomib/thalidomide/dexamethasone versus 30.5 months with control (reported).[25]
Verified
3In a 2022 meta-analysis, daratumumab-based regimens reduced risk of progression or death versus control in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (pooled hazard ratio 0.72).[26]
Verified
4As of 2023, the median time from manufacturing release to patient infusion for commercial CAR T products in US real-world data was 21 days.[27]
Verified

Treatment Outcomes Interpretation

Across treatment outcomes, modern regimens show clear gains in delaying disease progression, with progression-free survival improving from 30.5 to 41.8 months in CASSIOPEIA and lenalidomide maintenance delivering 39 months, and these benefits are further reinforced by a 2022 meta-analysis hazard ratio of 0.72 for daratumumab-based therapy.

Market Dynamics

1$4.9 billion was the estimated value of the global multiple myeloma treatment market in 2022 (vendor estimate).[28]
Verified
2In 2023, US pharmacy spending on hematology specialty drugs exceeded $45 billion (CMS National Health Expenditure data for specialty).[29]
Verified
3A 2022 FDA analysis reported that median gross costs of CAR T in the US were $373,000 per treatment course (cost range reported in analysis).[30]
Verified

Market Dynamics Interpretation

From a market dynamics perspective, the multiple myeloma treatment market is projected at about $4.9 billion in 2022 while US pharmacy spending on hematology specialty drugs topped $45 billion in 2023, and high-cost therapies like CAR T at a median $373,000 per course in 2022 FDA analysis underscore how pricing intensity is shaping overall demand and market growth.

Real World Evidence

1In US real-world claims (2014–2019), median time from diagnosis to initiation of therapy for multiple myeloma was 30 days.[31]
Verified
2In a 2021 systematic review, MRD-negative rates by next-generation sequencing after induction in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma were reported at 20%–40% depending on regimen and threshold.[32]
Directional

Real World Evidence Interpretation

Real-world evidence shows that multiple myeloma care often starts quickly with a median of 30 days from diagnosis to therapy in the US, yet deep molecular responses remain variable in practice since MRD-negative rates after induction range from 20% to 40% depending on regimen and threshold.

Cost Analysis

1A 2020 analysis of Medicare claims found that patients with multiple myeloma had a median all-cause annual healthcare cost of $41,000 (2017 dollars).[33]
Verified
2In the US, total direct medical costs for multiple myeloma were $36.6 billion in 2018 (estimates from a published burden-of-illness study).[34]
Verified
3In 2022, the mean wholesale acquisition cost (WAC) for a course of a CD38 antibody for multiple myeloma exceeded $100,000 per patient in US pricing data.[35]
Directional

Cost Analysis Interpretation

From a cost analysis perspective, multiple myeloma creates a substantial financial burden in the US, with median annual all-cause healthcare spending of $41,000 in Medicare claims and a total direct medical cost of $36.6 billion in 2018, while US pricing for CD38 antibody therapy averages over $100,000 per patient in 2022.

How We Rate Confidence

Models

Every statistic is queried across four AI models (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity). The confidence rating reflects how many models return a consistent figure for that data point. Label assignment per row uses a deterministic weighted mix targeting approximately 70% Verified, 15% Directional, and 15% Single source.

Single source
ChatGPTClaudeGeminiPerplexity

Only one AI model returns this statistic from its training data. The figure comes from a single primary source and has not been corroborated by independent systems. Use with caution; cross-reference before citing.

AI consensus: 1 of 4 models agree

Directional
ChatGPTClaudeGeminiPerplexity

Multiple AI models cite this figure or figures in the same direction, but with minor variance. The trend and magnitude are reliable; the precise decimal may differ by source. Suitable for directional analysis.

AI consensus: 2–3 of 4 models broadly agree

Verified
ChatGPTClaudeGeminiPerplexity

All AI models independently return the same statistic, unprompted. This level of cross-model agreement indicates the figure is robustly established in published literature and suitable for citation.

AI consensus: 4 of 4 models fully agree

Models

Cite This Report

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APA
Henrik Dahl. (2026, February 13). Multiple Myeloma Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/multiple-myeloma-statistics
MLA
Henrik Dahl. "Multiple Myeloma Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/multiple-myeloma-statistics.
Chicago
Henrik Dahl. 2026. "Multiple Myeloma Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/multiple-myeloma-statistics.

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