ASH 2021 | Phase I study of PHE885 CAR T-cell therapy in R/R multiple myeloma

Nikhil Munshi, MD, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, describes the results of a Phase I dose-escalation study evaluating PHE885, a BCMA-directed chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell, in relapsed/refractory (R/R) multiple myeloma (NCT04318327). PHE885 is manufactured using the T-Charge™️ platform which enables the CAR-T product to be manufactured in less than two days, providing a significant advantage over other existing CAR T-cell products. The study reported a response rate (RR) of 75% in patients who received 2.5 million cells, and reached 100% in patients who received 5 and 10 million cells. With a median follow-up of 3.5 months, 8 of 15 patients have an ongoing response to treatment with PHE885. Further results on response durability and progression-free survival (PFS) are eagerly awaited. Moreover, all 15 patients experienced cytokine release syndrome (CRS), but only 13% had grade 3 or higher toxicity, and 4 patients had neurotoxicity. Dr Munshi explains that the short CAR-T production time allows to predict CRS accurately. In addition, a naïve-like T-cell phenotype was observed in patients achieving partial response (PR) following infusion and was associated with a better overall outcome. This interview took place at the 63rd ASH Annual Meeting and Exposition congress in Atlanta, GA.