ASH 2023 | Obe-cel for R/R B-ALL: pooled analysis of the ongoing FELIX study

Obe-cel. CAR T-cells. You know, today, when you relapse with ALL, it’s a death sentence. We have immune therapy with short-lived responses. And then, we have the CAR T-cells available in pediatric, up to age 25, and in patients who have failed multiple agents. That being said, the problem with these CAR T-cells is toxicities -high cytokine release syndrome rate as well as neurotoxicities. So the good thing about the obe-cel is what you call the ‘fast-off’ CAR-Ts, limiting the binding of the CAR-T and therefore we don’t have the storm of the T-cells, but we have a durable T-cell. So what we’ve seen in this study is that we have great responses, a 75% response rate, and among responders, high MRD-negativity. But on top of that, we had no CRS, only 2%, and mainly seen in patients with high tumor burden, and ICANS 7%, mainly seen in high tumor burden, are reversible. We had a very tolerable CAR-T product, given in a twice injection based on tumor burden, and so far, we’ve seen CAR-Ts persisting beyond 12 months. So, with delivering a safe product with durable responses, that means eventually, down the road, CAR-T will not be used as a bridge for transplant, but as a frontline therapy on their own. Of course, longer follow-up is needed, but that is very exciting.