Multiple myeloma accounts for about 90 percent of plasma cell neoplasm cases. It occurs at roughly 6 cases per 100000 people each year worldwide. The sections below compile incidence data, diagnostic thresholds, cytogenetic risk markers, and progression free survival results from major trials.
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.
Related reading
01 · Category
Incidence & Mortality2 stats
01
Plasma cell neoplasms are rare; multiple myeloma accounts for about 90% of cases in the category (NCI PDQ)
02
Multiple myeloma occurs in about 6 cases per 100,000 people per year globally (approximate SEER-derived comparison noted by NCI)
Interpretation
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.
02 · Category
Incidence & Survival1 stats
01
International Myeloma Working Group defines high-risk cytogenetics as including del(17p), t(4;14), and t(14;16)
Interpretation
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.
03 · Category
Diagnostic & Risk4 stats
01
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
02
The R-ISS system includes high-risk cytogenetics defined by del(17p), t(4;14), and/or t(14;16)
03
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
04
PET/CT can detect lesions and is incorporated into imaging-based responses and assessments in multiple myeloma
Interpretation
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.
04 · Category
Treatment & Outcomes12 stats
01
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
02
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
03
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)
04
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
05
In the AQUILA trial, median progression-free survival for talquetamab in advanced relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma was 5.6 months
06
In the MONUMENTAL-1 trial, teclistamab achieved an overall response rate of 63% in heavily pretreated relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma
07
In the pivotal KarMMa-3 study, idecabtagene vicleucel (ide-cel) produced an overall response rate of 72% in patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma
08
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)
09
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
10
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
11
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)
12
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)
Interpretation
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.
05 · Category
Epidemiology3 stats
01
2.1% of all cancer deaths worldwide are due to multiple myeloma (2020 estimate).
02
106,000 multiple myeloma deaths were estimated worldwide in 2018.
03
Approximately 12,600 people died from multiple myeloma in the United States in 2024.
Interpretation
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.
More related reading
06 · Category
Clinical Burden1 stats
01
Around 30% of patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma have anemia at presentation (Hb below lower limit).
Interpretation
Clinical Burden Interpretation
About 30% of newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients present with anemia, highlighting a substantial early clinical burden in routine practice.
07 · Category
Treatment Outcomes4 stats
01
The median progression-free survival for lenalidomide maintenance after transplant was 39 months in the CALGB 100104 study (2012 report).
02
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).
03
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).
04
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.
Interpretation
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.
08 · Category
Market Dynamics3 stats
01
$4.9 billion was the estimated value of the global multiple myeloma treatment market in 2022 (vendor estimate).
02
In 2023, US pharmacy spending on hematology specialty drugs exceeded $45 billion (CMS National Health Expenditure data for specialty).
03
A 2022 FDA analysis reported that median gross costs of CAR T in the US were $373,000per treatment course (cost range reported in analysis).
Interpretation
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.
09 · Category
Real World Evidence2 stats
01
In US real-world claims (2014–2019), median time from diagnosis to initiation of therapy for multiple myeloma was 30 days.
02
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.
Interpretation
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.
10 · Category
Cost Analysis3 stats
01
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).
02
In the US, total direct medical costs for multiple myeloma were $36.6 billion in 2018 (estimates from a published burden-of-illness study).
03
In 2022, the mean wholesale acquisition cost (WAC) for a course of a CD38 antibody for multiple myeloma exceeded $100,000per patient in US pricing data.
Interpretation
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.
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
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.
Sources & references
35 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+17 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)