Two Bespoke CAR-T Therapies Yield Promising Results

Gilead Sciences and Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS) are touting positive data from studies of their bespoke CAR-T cell treatments, each company hailing the results as a new treatment era for patients with relapsed or treatment-resistant large B-cell lymphoma.

The announcements, which came at the annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology, showed that Gilead’s Yescarta (axicabtagene ciloleucel) and BMS’ Breyanzi  (lisocabtagene maraleucel) both improved event-free and overall survival relative to standard treatment of immune depletion followed by autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant.

Gilead’s ZUMA-7 study enrolled 359 patients, randomizing them to one Yescarta infusion or to standard therapy (immune depletion followed by stem cell transplant). Among those taking Yescarta, the response rate was 83 percent, with a complete response in 63 percent.

BMS’ phase 3 data from the TRANSFORM study of Breyanzi also looked good. The study enrolled 184 patients who were randomized to Breyanzi or standard of care. In the Breyanzi group, the response rate was 86 percent, with 66 percent achieving a complete response.