A first in Europe and Türkiye: Landmark patient dosing performed at Medipol

The Hematology Department at Bağcılar Medipol Mega University Hospital reached an important milestone in an international clinical trial. According to the information shared, the patient dosing performed as part of TRILOGY-5 was the second worldwide and the first in Europe and Türkiye.

AIM: NEW OPTIONS FOR PATIENTS WHO DEVELOP RESISTANCE TO TREATMENT 
The study focuses on multiple myeloma. This blood cancer, which develops when plasma cells in the bone marrow multiply uncontrollably, can recur after treatment or become resistant to existing therapies over time.

Researchers are therefore investigating new treatment options for patients who have previously received treatment but whose disease has returned or no longer responds to available therapies. TRILOGY-5 focuses on this patient population. In the international Phase 3 trial, a new investigational treatment called JNJ-79635322 is being compared with teclistamab, a therapy used in the treatment of multiple myeloma.

HARNESSING THE IMMUNE SYSTEM TO TARGET CANCER CELLS
One of the distinguishing features of the study is that JNJ-79635322 has been developed as a trispecific antibody. Put simply, this approach aims to help the immune system target cancer cells more effectively. The investigational molecule is designed to recognize specific targets on multiple myeloma cells while also engaging the immune system’s T cells, with the aim of eliminating cancer cells.

One of the key questions being investigated is how more effectively directing the immune system toward cancer cells may affect treatment outcomes. 

MARAL: INCREASING THE NUMBER OF CLINICAL TRIALS IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT 
Assoc. Prof. Senem Maral, a faculty member at the School of Medicine and Principal Investigator for Hematology at the Medipol University Clinical Research Center, said that clinical trials are playing an increasingly important role in modern medicine.
 

Noting that international treatment guidelines may recommend clinical trials at earlier stages of treatment for certain diseases, Maral said, “As in the rest of the world, the importance of clinical research is increasingly being recognized in Türkiye, and clinical trials are becoming a more prominent part of our clinical practice. International treatment guidelines also recommend clinical trials at earlier stages for certain diseases. For this reason, increasing the number of clinical trials in our country and expanding the range of treatment options is extremely important.” 

"EARLY ACCESS TO NEW MOLECULES IS A MAJOR ADVANTAGE FOR PATIENTS"
Emphasizing that clinical trials can enable patients to gain earlier access to new treatment options, Maral said, “It is a major advantage for us that Turkish patients can gain early access to and receive new molecules and medicines based on new technologies that may become standard treatments in the years ahead.”

Maral stated that the Medipol University Hematology Clinical Research Unit continues to work actively in this field and is one of Türkiye’s leading centers. Commenting on the milestone reached in TRILOGY-5, she said:

“In recent months, one of the first patient dosing procedures in Europe and Türkiye for a clinical trial investigating a treatment for multiple myeloma was performed at our center. We are very proud and excited to have reached this milestone.”

MEDIPOL TTO: AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE RESEARCH ECOSYSTEM
The TRILOGY-5 study also demonstrates how clinical research at Medipol is conducted within an ecosystem that brings together the hospital, researchers, and technology transfer infrastructure.

The Istanbul Medipol University Technology Transfer Office (TTO) works to transform academic knowledge and research outputs generated at the University into value in the fields of health and technology. Supporting the advancement of clinical research and researchers, as well as strengthening university-industry collaboration, are also key components of this ecosystem.

To date, Medipol’s TTO structure has contributed to more than 500 projects and patent initiatives and over 100 collaborations, playing an important role in bringing the University’s research capacity together with clinical applications.

The patient dosing carried out by the Hematology team led by Assoc. Prof. Senem Maral as part of TRILOGY-5 stands out as an international example of this research ecosystem in action.

A SIGNIFICANT MILESTONE DEMONSTRATING MEDIPOL'S INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH CAPACITY 
International multicenter clinical trials play an important role in scientifically evaluating the efficacy and safety of new treatments. Research centers in different countries working under the same protocol allow findings to be assessed across a broader patient population.

The first patient dosing in Europe and Türkiye under TRILOGY-5 being performed at Medipol represents an important milestone demonstrating both Türkiye’s active role in international hematology research and Medipol’s research capacity in this field.

The study’s findings regarding the efficacy and safety of the treatment will be determined by the scientific data obtained upon completion of the research process.