Recent advancements in innovative therapies from both domestic and international sources, among other factors, have significantly improved outcomes of patients suffering from multiple myeloma, a major hematological malignancy, in China, a medical expert said in a media interview on Wednesday.

With the advent of various new therapies focusing on novel targets, official data showed that the median patient survival has now reached six to eight years in the country and is expected to rise further from eight to 10 years, a significant rise from what was three to four years about two decades ago, said Liu Peng, director of the hematology department at Zhongshan Hospital Affiliated with Fudan University in Shanghai.

Reduced financial burdens on patients due to public health insurance, multidisciplinary collaborative medical care and nursing have also contributed to the improved patient outcomes, he noted.

China sees approximately 30,000 new cases of multiple myeloma annually. Although the disease remains incurable and is characterized by frequent relapses, recent developments offer hope.

Over the past three years, five innovative medicines targeting BCMA drug have been approved in China, developed either by local or international enterprises. They include an ADC drug, a newly emerging class of highly potent pharmaceutical therapies, approved in April. Relevant clinical trials showed a 42 percent reduction in mortality risk when used in combination therapies.

"In the past, we observed that in some foreign countries, patients would continue treatment even after the eighth or 10th relapse. In contrast, many Chinese patients stopped seeking medical care after the third relapse," Liu said.

"The introduction of new, effective treatment options is a major factor in improving patient willingness and adherence to treatment," he said.