Pomalidomide
The third-generation thalidomide analogue for myeloma that has failed lenalidomide, and since 2020 the first new drug for Kaposi sarcoma in two decades.
MM-003 (2013): OS benefit versus high-dose dexamethasone in refractory myeloma; backbone of many triplets (isatuximab-Pd ICARIA, elotuzumab-Pd, daratumumab-Pd APOLLO). Approved for Kaposi sarcoma (HIV-positive after ART failure and HIV-negative) in 2020 on a 71% response rate.
- Medicare
- Part D (self-administered)
Oral, self-administered, so it is a Part D drug: covered through a stand-alone Part D plan or Medicare Advantage drug benefit, usually on the specialty tier with 25 to 33% coinsurance until the annual cap ($2,000 in 2025, $2,100 in 2026). Pomalyst was selected for Medicare price negotiation in January 2025; the negotiated maximum fair price takes effect 1 January 2027. REMS-restricted dispensing.
- Commercial insurance
- covered with prior authorisation
Covered for FDA-labelled and NCCN-listed uses, but almost always behind prior authorisation confirming diagnosis, biomarker and line of therapy; dispensed through a specialty pharmacy.
- Assistance programmes
- BMS Access Support
- Bristol Myers Squibb Patient Assistance Foundation
- PAN Foundation — Disease-specific co-pay and premium funds; open and closed funds change monthly.
- HealthWell Foundation
- CancerCare Co-Payment Assistance Foundation
- Patient Advocate Foundation Co-Pay Relief
- Leukemia & Lymphoma Society financial support
Part D out-of-pocket capped at $2,000 (2025) / $2,100 (2026). Medicare patients cannot use manufacturer co-pay cards; charity funds (PAN, HealthWell, CancerCare) and the Extra Help subsidy are the routes.
Sources: Medicare.gov: Drug coverage (Part D) · Medicare.gov: Costs for Medicare drug coverage (annual out-of-pocket cap) · CMS: Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program. Not medical or financial advice; verify with your plan.
- Appraised for
- Multiple myeloma after 3 or more treatments including lenalidomide and bortezomib
- Notes
- Originally rejected in 2015 and funded via the old CDF.
- NHS England
- Routinely funded for the appraised indication (or via managed access)
Sources: NICE TA427 · SMC advice: pomalidomide. Funding decisions are indication-specific and change monthly; verify with NICE and your treating team.
Approvals
| Region | Year | Indication |
|---|---|---|
| US | 2013 | Multiple myeloma after ≥2 therapies including lenalidomide and a proteasome inhibitor |
| US | 2020 | Kaposi sarcoma (AIDS-related after ART failure; HIV-negative) |
| EU | 2013 | Relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma |
Trials
topRecruiting now (live from ClinicalTrials.gov)
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Latest papers
topQuery for this drug: (TITLE:"Pomalidomide" OR ABSTRACT:"Pomalidomide" OR TITLE:"Pomalyst" OR ABSTRACT:"Pomalyst" OR TITLE:"Imnovid" OR ABSTRACT:"Imnovid") AND (cancer OR tumor OR tumour OR oncology OR carcinoma OR lymphoma OR leukemia OR leukaemia OR myeloma OR sarcoma OR melanoma OR glioma). Results are unfiltered search hits about Pomalidomide, not a curated reading list.