ASH 2021 | Phase I study of bb21217 CAR-T therapy in R/R myeloma
Noopur Raje, MD, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, shares the latest findings from a large Phase I study (NCT03274219) of bb21217, a BCMA-directed CAR T-cell therapy, in patients with relapsed/refractory (R/R) multiple myeloma. Unlike previous BCMA-targeting CAR-T agents, bb21217 is exposed to a PI3K inhibitor during ex vivo culture to enrich the product for a memory-like T-cell phenotype. In total, 72 patients were treated at three dose levels of bb21217, up to the target dose of 450 x 10^6 CAR+ T-cells. The overall response rate across the three groups was 69%. CAR+ T-cells could be detected at 6 months and 12 months in 81% and 60% of patients, respectively. Additionally, a greater number of CD8+ CAR+ T-cells expressing CD27 and CD28 at baseline was associated with a longer duration of response. Overall, these findings support the rationale that enrichment for memory-like T-cells is associated with prolonged efficacy. This interview took place at the 63rd ASH Annual Meeting and Exposition congress in Atlanta, GA.
