BUSINESS - Mariska Hargitay Partners with Bristol Myers Squibb for "Investigating Myeloma"

Mariska Hargitay, Investigating Myeloma - (Photo by Nikolett Kustos)

Awareness Campaign to Honor Her Father 20 Years After Losing Him to the Disease - Multiple myeloma is a complex and incurable blood cancer, characterized by a relentless cycle of relapse and progressively shorter remissions

PRINCETON, N.J. USA - (BUSINESS WIRE)

Friday June 19, 2026

Bristol Myers Squibb announced the launch of "Investigating Myeloma," a multiple myeloma awareness campaign, in partnership with award-winning actor, director, producer and advocate Mariska Hargitay. This campaign spotlights the importance of ongoing scientific investigation in multiple myeloma, including an approach called CELMoD research led by BMS, defined as cereblon E3 ligase modulation.

CELMoD research focuses on engaging key proteins involved in the disease for breakdown by the cell's own protein removal system to stimulate the immune system and enhance cancer cell killing. For Mariska, this campaign is deeply personal as she reflects on how research has evolved 20 years after her father, Mickey Hargitay, passed away from the disease.

"My father was and remains my hero. Many years have passed since we lost him to multiple myeloma, but I still have questions about the disease that brought down this pillar in my life," said Mariska. "This campaign is my chance to honor my dad, answer my questions about myeloma, and shine a light on CELMoD research, a remarkable area of scientific inquiry that has emerged since his death and is renewing hope for patients and their loved ones."

Mickey Hargitay was an actor, champion body builder and family man. Mariska first noticed something might be wrong at her wedding, where Mickey, always so full of life, seemed unusually tired.

At the time, she believed he was just overwhelmed with emotion, but looking back now, understands it was a sign that something wasn't right. True to his spirit, Mickey approached his myeloma diagnosis with a positive attitude and though the treatment landscape looked different than it does today, he fought with everything he had until the end. Her personal journey of reconnecting with Mickey's story is at the heart of "Investigating Myeloma," which underscores the critical need for continued scientific investigation.

"Listening to Mariska's story, I felt an immediate personal connection. I lost my father to multiple myeloma many years ago, and that experience continues to shape how I approach the work we do at BMS," said Monica Shaw, MD, Senior Vice President, Oncology Commercialization at Bristol Myers Squibb. "I had trained as a physician but was working in industry at the time of his diagnosis, and I remember how difficult it was to truly understand what his options were and how to access them. No patient or family should have to navigate that complexity on their own. That experience fuels my commitment to expanding access, simplifying the journey for patients, and accelerating awareness of new scientific approaches-like CELMoD research-that have the potential to make a meaningful difference for patients living with multiple myeloma."

Building on more than two decades of pioneering research and development that has transformed the multiple myeloma treatment landscape, BMS continues to drive breakthroughs and advance care across the disease continuum. Guided by an unwavering commitment to patients, BMS is investigating new approaches, including CELMoD research-part of their larger targeted protein degradation platform-to uncover deeper insights into the complex biology of multiple myeloma. "We are incredibly proud of our long-standing commitment and leadership in advancing the science to better understand multiple myeloma.

However, despite significant progress that has transformed this treatable yet still incurable disease, our work is far from over," said Neil Bence, PhD, Senior Vice President, Head of Protein Homeostasis Thematic Research Center at Bristol Myers Squibb. "Our innovative CELMoD research is a cornerstone of our scientific investigation into myeloma. This approach specifically engages cereblon within the cell's natural protein removal system to selectively break down key proteins linked to this disease."

To learn more about Mariska's story and to explore multiple myeloma research, visit InvestigatingMyeloma.com.

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