Ciltacabtagene Autoleucel (cilta-cel) Reduced Risk of Disease Progression or Death by 74% vs Standard Regimens for Adult Patients with Relapsed and Refractory Multiple Myeloma in CARTITUDE-4 Study
- First analysis data from CARTITUDE-4 demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in progression-free survival, with a hazard ratio of 0.26
- CARTITUDE-4 is the first randomized study investigating the efficacy of a cell therapy versus standard of care (DPd or PVd) as early as after first relapse in lenalidomide-refractory multiple myeloma
- Long-term results from CARTITUDE-1 and LEGEND-2 demonstrated sustained deep and durable responses
Eligible patients in the CARTITUDE-4 study had one to three prior lines of treatment, including proteasome inhibitors (PI) and immunomodulatory drugs and were lenalidomide-refractory.1 Four hundred and nineteen patients were randomized, with 208 patients in the cilta-cel arm and 211 patients in the SOC arm. At the median follow up of 16 months, the median PFS had not yet been reached in the cilta-cel arm (
“There continues to be a serious unmet need in multiple myeloma, particularly in earlier lines of treatment,” said Binod Dhakal, M.D., M.S., Associate Professor of Medicine at the Medical College of
In the study, 97 percent and 94 percent of patients treated in the cilta-cel and SOC groups, respectively, had grade 3 or 4 adverse events, including infections (27 percent versus 25 percent) and cytopenias (94 percent versus 86 percent).1 Overall, 39 patients in the cilta-cel arm and 46 patients in the SOC arms died, of which 10 cilta-cel and 5 SOC patients passed due to treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs).1 In patients who received cilta-cel as study treatment (n=176), 76 percent had cytokine release syndrome (1 percent grade 3; no grade 4 or 5) and 5 percent had immune effector cell associated neurotoxicity syndrome (all grade 1 or 2).1 One grade 1 movement and neurocognitive treatment-emergent adverse event was reported in the cilta-cel group.1
“Data from CARTITUDE-4 demonstrated strong results for study patients after first relapse,” said Mythili Koneru, M.D., Chief Medical Officer at Legend Biotech. “We are inspired by the potential of cilta-cel for patients with multiple myeloma who continue to have a high need for another treatment option.”
Final Analysis of CARTITUDE-1 Study Demonstrated Deep and Durable Responses
A final analysis of data from the Phase 1b/2 CARTITUDE-1 (NCT03548207) study showed sustained deep and durable responses in heavily pretreated patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma treated with cilta-cel (Abstract #8009).2 At a median follow-up of 33.4 months (range, 1.5-45.2), the median PFS was 34.9 months (95 percent CI, 25.2–not estimable [NE]), with an estimated 47.5 percent of patients progression-free and alive at 36 months.2
In the study, 97 patients received cilta-cel, with a median of six prior lines of therapy.2 Forty-two percent of patients were penta-drug refractory, 88 percent were triple-class refractory and 99 percent were refractory to the last line of treatment.2 At data cut-off, the median duration of response was 33.9 months (95 percent CI, 25.5–NE).2 Median overall survival (OS) was not reached in the study, with an estimated 62.9 percent OS rate at 36 months.2 Of 49 MRD-evaluable patients, 26 had MRD-negativity sustained for 12 months or longer, of which 20 had a sustained MRD-negative CR or better.2 Eighteen patients were MRD-negative with a CR or better at 24-months post infusion.2 No new safety signals and no new neurotoxicity events were reported since the 27.7-month median follow-up.2 Six new cases of second primary malignancy were reported, including two cases of basal cell carcinoma and one case each of myelodysplastic syndrome, B-cell lymphoma, melanoma and prostate cancer.2 Five additional deaths occurred in the study (PD, n=3; pneumonia and sepsis, n=1 each, both determined by the investigators to be unrelated to cilta-cel), for a total of 35 deaths in the study (PD, n=17; unrelated to cilta-cel, n=12; related, n=6, as determined by investigators).2
Five-Year Follow-up Data from LEGEND-2 Highlights Sustained, Durable Responses
Five-year follow-up data from LEGEND-2, the longest follow-up for any BCMA-targeted CAR-T cell therapy study investigating LCAR-B38M, a similar CAR construct to cilta-cel, showed a median OS of 55.8 months, with 18 percent of patients with heavily pretreated multiple myeloma remaining disease-free.3
At the data cut-off, median follow-up in the LEGEND-2 study was 65.4 months (range, 0.4-78.8).3 Seventy-four patients received LCAR-B38M, with a median of three prior lines of therapy (range, 1-9); 35.7 percent of patients had high risk cytogenic profiles.3 In the study, the ORR was 87.8 percent, and 73 percent of patients achieved a CR.3 The median duration of response in the study was 23 months, and median PFS was 18 months at maturity, consistent with previously reported data.3 The rate of MRD-negative CR was 67.6 percent.3 No new CAR-T cell-related toxicities were reported in the analysis.3
Disclosure: Dr. Dhakal has provided consulting, advisory, and speaking services to Legend Biotech and Janssen Biotech, Inc.
CARVYKTI® Important Safety Information
CARVYKTI® INDICATIONS AND USAGE
CARVYKTI® (ciltacabtagene autoleucel) is a B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA)-directed genetically modified autologous T cell immunotherapy indicated for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma, after four or more prior lines of therapy, including a proteasome inhibitor, an immunomodulatory agent, and an anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody.
CARVYKTI® IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
WARNING: CYTOKINE RELEASE SYNDROME, NEUROLOGIC TOXICITIES, HLH/MAS, and PROLONGED and RECURRENT CYTOPENIA
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WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS
Cytokine Release Syndrome (CRS) including fatal or life-threatening reactions, occurred following treatment with CARVYKTI® in
Identify CRS based on clinical presentation. Evaluate for and treat other causes of fever, hypoxia, and hypotension. CRS has been reported to be associated with findings of HLH/MAS, and the physiology of the syndromes may overlap. HLH/MAS is a potentially life-threatening condition. In patients with progressive symptoms of CRS or refractory CRS despite treatment, evaluate for evidence of HLH/MAS.
Sixty-nine of 97 (
Monitor patients at least daily for 10 days following CARVYKTI® infusion at a REMS-certified healthcare facility for signs and symptoms of CRS. Monitor patients for signs or symptoms of CRS for at least 4 weeks after infusion. At the first sign of CRS, immediately institute treatment with supportive care, tocilizumab, or tocilizumab and corticosteroids.
Counsel patients to seek immediate medical attention should signs or symptoms of CRS occur at any time.
Neurologic toxicities, which may be severe, life-threatening or fatal, occurred following treatment with CARVYKTI®. Neurologic toxicities included ICANS, neurologic toxicity with signs and symptoms of parkinsonism, Guillain-Barré Syndrome, peripheral neuropathies, and cranial nerve palsies. Counsel patients on the signs and symptoms of these neurologic toxicities, and on the delayed nature of onset of some of these toxicities. Instruct patients to seek immediate medical attention for further assessment and management if signs or symptoms of any of these neurologic toxicities occur at any time.
Overall, one or more subtypes of neurologic toxicity described below occurred following ciltacabtagene autoleucel in
Immune Effector Cell-Associated Neurotoxicity Syndrome (ICANS): Patients may experience fatal or life-threatening ICANS following treatment with CARVYKTI®, including before CRS onset, concurrently with CRS, after CRS resolution, or in the absence of CRS. ICANS occurred in
Monitor patients at least daily for 10 days following CARVYKTI® infusion at the REMS-certified healthcare facility for signs and symptoms of ICANS. Rule out other causes of ICANS symptoms. Monitor patients for signs or symptoms of ICANS for at least 4 weeks after infusion and treat promptly. Neurologic toxicity should be managed with supportive care and/or corticosteroids as needed.
Parkinsonism: Of the 25 patients in the CARTITUDE-1 study experiencing any neurotoxicity, five male patients had neurologic toxicity with several signs and symptoms of parkinsonism, distinct from immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS). Neurologic toxicity with parkinsonism has been reported in other ongoing trials of ciltacabtagene autoleucel. Patients had parkinsonian and non-parkinsonian symptoms that included tremor, bradykinesia, involuntary movements, stereotypy, loss of spontaneous movements, masked facies, apathy, flat affect, fatigue, rigidity, psychomotor retardation, micrographia, dysgraphia, apraxia, lethargy, confusion, somnolence, loss of consciousness, delayed reflexes, hyperreflexia, memory loss, difficulty swallowing, bowel incontinence, falls, stooped posture, shuffling gait, muscle weakness and wasting, motor dysfunction, motor and sensory loss, akinetic mutism, and frontal lobe release signs. The median onset of parkinsonism in the 5 patients in CARTITUDE-1 was 43 days (range 15-108) from infusion of ciltacabtagene autoleucel.
Monitor patients for signs and symptoms of parkinsonism that may be delayed in onset and managed with supportive care measures. There is limited efficacy information with medications used for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease, for the improvement or resolution of parkinsonism symptoms following CARVYKTI® treatment.
Guillain-Barré Syndrome: A fatal outcome following Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) has occurred in another ongoing study of ciltacabtagene autoleucel despite treatment with intravenous immunoglobulins. Symptoms reported include those consistent with Miller-Fisher variant of GBS, encephalopathy, motor weakness, speech disturbances and polyradiculoneuritis.
Monitor for GBS. Evaluate patients presenting with peripheral neuropathy for GBS. Consider treatment of GBS with supportive care measures and in conjunction with immunoglobulins and plasma exchange, depending on severity of GBS.
Peripheral Neuropathy: Six patients in CARTITUDE-1 developed peripheral neuropathy. These neuropathies presented as sensory, motor or sensorimotor neuropathies. Median time of onset of symptoms was 62 days (range 4-136 days), median duration of peripheral neuropathies was 256 days (range 2-465 days) including those with ongoing neuropathy. Patients who experienced peripheral neuropathy also experienced cranial nerve palsies or GBS in other ongoing trials of ciltacabtagene autoleucel.
Cranial Nerve Palsies: Three patients (
Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis (HLH)/Macrophage Activation Syndrome (MAS): Fatal HLH occurred in one patient (
CARVYKTI® REMS: Because of the risk of CRS and neurologic toxicities, CARVYKTI® is available only through a restricted program under a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) called the CARVYKTI® REMS.
Further information is available at www.CARVYKTIrems.com or 1-844-672-0067.
Prolonged and Recurrent Cytopenias: Patients may exhibit prolonged and recurrent cytopenias following lymphodepleting chemotherapy and CARVYKTI® infusion. One patient underwent autologous stem cell therapy for hematopoietic reconstitution due to prolonged thrombocytopenia.
In CARTITUDE-1,
Recurrent Grade 3 or 4 neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, lymphopenia and anemia were seen in
Monitor blood counts prior to and after CARVYKTI® infusion. Manage cytopenias with growth factors and blood product transfusion support according to local institutional guidelines.
Infections: CARVYKTI® should not be administered to patients with active infection or inflammatory disorders. Severe, life-threatening or fatal infections occurred in patients after CARVYKTI® infusion.
Infections (all grades) occurred in 57 (
Monitor patients for signs and symptoms of infection before and after CARVYKTI® infusion and treat patients appropriately. Administer prophylactic, pre-emptive and/or therapeutic antimicrobials according to the standard institutional guidelines. Febrile neutropenia was observed in
Viral Reactivation: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation, in some cases resulting in fulminant hepatitis, hepatic failure and death, can occur in patients with hypogammaglobulinemia. Perform screening for Cytomegalovirus (CMV), HBV, hepatitis C virus (HCV), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), or any other infectious agents if clinically indicated in accordance with clinical guidelines before collection of cells for manufacturing. Consider antiviral therapy to prevent viral reactivation per local institutional guidelines/clinical practice.
Hypogammaglobulinemia was reported as an adverse event in
Use of Live Vaccines: The safety of immunization with live viral vaccines during or following CARVYKTI® treatment has not been studied. Vaccination with live virus vaccines is not recommended for at least 6 weeks prior to the start of lymphodepleting chemotherapy, during CARVYKTI® treatment, and until immune recovery following treatment with CARVYKTI®.
Hypersensitivity Reactions have occurred in
Secondary Malignancies: Patients may develop secondary malignancies. Monitor life-long for secondary malignancies. In the event that a secondary malignancy occurs, contact Janssen Biotech, Inc., at 1-800-526-7736 for reporting and to obtain instructions on collection of patient samples for testing of secondary malignancy of T cell origin.
Effects on Ability to Drive and Use Machines: Due to the potential for neurologic events, including altered mental status, seizures, neurocognitive decline, or neuropathy, patients are at risk for altered or decreased consciousness or coordination in the 8 weeks following CARVYKTI® infusion. Advise patients to refrain from driving and engaging in hazardous occupations or activities, such as operating heavy or potentially dangerous machinery during this initial period, and in the event of new onset of any neurologic toxicities.
ADVERSE REACTIONS
The most common non-laboratory adverse reactions (incidence greater than
Please read full Prescribing Information including Boxed Warning for CARVYKTI®.
About CARVYKTI® (ciltacabtagene autoleucel; cilta-cel)
Ciltacabtagene autoleucel is a BCMA-directed, genetically modified autologous T-cell immunotherapy, which involves reprogramming a patient’s own T-cells with a transgene encoding a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) that identifies and eliminates cells that express BCMA. BCMA is primarily expressed on the surface of malignant multiple myeloma B-lineage cells, as well as late-stage B-cells and plasma cells. The cilta-cel CAR protein features two BCMA-targeting single domain antibodies designed to confer high avidity against human BCMA. Upon binding to BCMA-expressing cells, the CAR promotes T-cell activation, expansion, and elimination of target cells.4
In February 2022, cilta-cel was approved by the
In December 2017, Legend Biotech entered into an exclusive worldwide license and collaboration agreement with Janssen Biotech, Inc. (Janssen) to develop and commercialize cilta-cel.
About CARTITUDE-4
CARTITUDE-4 (NCT04181827) is the first international, randomized, open-label Phase 3 study evaluating the efficacy and safety of a CAR-T therapy versus pomalidomide, bortezomib and dexamethasone (PVd) or daratumumab, pomalidomide and dexamethasone (DPd) in adult patients with relapsed and lenalidomide-refractory multiple myeloma who received one to three prior lines of therapy. After apheresis, patients randomized to the cilta-cel arm of the study received either PVd or DPd as bridging therapy, followed by an infusion of cilta-cel five to seven days after lymphodepletion. In total, 176 patients received planned cilta-cel treatment and 20 received cilta-cel after disease progression during bridging therapy.1 In the SOC group, 28 patients were treated with PVd and 183 patients were treated with DPd until disease progression.1 The primary endpoint of the study is PFS. Secondary endpoints include safety, overall survival (OS), minimal residual disease (MRD) negative rate and overall response rate (ORR). Patients will continue to be followed for primary and secondary endpoints as part of the CARTITUDE-4 study.
About CARTITUDE-1
CARTITUDE-1 (NCT03548207) is a Phase 1b/2, open-label, single arm, multi-center trial evaluating cilta-cel for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma, who previously received at least three prior lines of therapy including a proteasome inhibitor (PI), an immunomodulatory agent (IMiD) and an anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody. Of the 97 patients enrolled in the trial, 99 percent were refractory to the last line of treatment and 88 percent were triple-class refractory, meaning their cancer did not respond, or no longer responds, to an IMiD, a PI and an anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody.
About LEGEND-2
LEGEND-2 (NCT03090659) is a Phase 1/2, single-arm, open-label program in
About Multiple Myeloma
Multiple myeloma is an incurable blood cancer that starts in the bone marrow and is characterized by an excessive proliferation of plasma cells.9 In 2023, it is estimated that more than 35,000 people will be diagnosed with multiple myeloma, and more than 12,000 people will die from the disease in the
About Legend Biotech
Legend Biotech is a global biotechnology company dedicated to treating, and one day curing, life-threatening diseases. Headquartered in
Learn more at www.legendbiotech.com and follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn.
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Statements in this press release about future expectations, plans and prospects, as well as any other statements regarding matters that are not historical facts, constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements relating to Legend Biotech’s strategies and objectives; statements relating to CARVYKTI® and any other product candidates, including Legend Biotech’s expectations for CARVYKTI® and any other product candidates, such as the potential effect of treatment with CARVYKTI® and any other product candidates; the anticipated timing of, and ability to progress, clinical trials; the ability to generate, analyze and present data from clinical trials; expected results of clinical trials; and the potential benefits of Legend Biotech’s product candidates. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “target,” “will,” “would” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors. Legend Biotech’s expectations could be affected by, among other things, uncertainties involved in the development of new pharmaceutical products; unexpected clinical trial results, including as a result of additional analysis of existing clinical data or unexpected new clinical data; unexpected regulatory actions or delays, including requests for additional safety and/or efficacy data or analysis of data, or government regulation generally; unexpected delays as a result of actions undertaken, or failures to act, by our third party partners; uncertainties arising from challenges to Legend Biotech’s patent or other proprietary intellectual property protection, including the uncertainties involved in the
References
1 Dhakal, B. First phase 3 results from CARTITUDE-4: Cilta-cel versus standard of care (PVd or DPd) in lenalidomide-refractory multiple myeloma. To be presented at the 2023 American Society of Oncology Annual Meeting and European Hematology Association 2023 Hybrid Congress.
2 Lin, Y. CARTITUDE-1 final results: Phase 1b/2 study of ciltacabtagene autoleucel in heavily pretreated patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma. To be presented at the 2023 American Society of Oncology Annual Meeting and European Hematology Association 2023 Hybrid Congress.
3 Mi, J-Q. Long-Term Remission and Survival in Patients with Relapsed or Refractory Multiple Myeloma After Treatment of LCAR-B38M CAR-T – At Least 5-Year Follow-Up in LEGEND-2. To be presented at the 2023 American Society of Oncology Annual Meeting and European Hematology Association 2023 Hybrid Congress.
4 CARVYKTI™ Prescribing Information.
5 CARVYKTI™ (ciltacabtagene autoleucel), BCMA-Directed CAR-T Therapy, Receives
6 CARVYKTI (ciltacabtagene autoleucel) Granted Conditional Approval by the European Commission for the Treatment of Patients with Relapsed and Refractory Multiple Myeloma. Available at: https://legendbiotech.com/legend-news/carvykti-ciltacabtagene-autoleucel-granted-conditional-approval-by-the-european-commission-for-the-treatment-of-patients-with-relapsed-and-refractory-multiple-myeloma/. Accessed October 2022.
7 CARVYKTI™ (ciltacabtagene autoleucel) Receives Approval from Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) for the Treatment of Patients with Relapsed or Refractory Multiple Myeloma. Available at: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220926005847/en/CARVYKTI%E2%
8 European Commission. Community Register of Orphan Medicinal Products. Available at: https://ec.europa.eu/health/documents/community-register/html/o2252.htm. Accessed October 2022.
9 American Society of Clinical Oncology. Multiple myeloma: introduction. https://www.cancer.net/cancer- types/multiple-myeloma/introduction. Accessed October 2022.
10 American Cancer Society. "Key Statistics About Multiple Myeloma." Available at: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/multiple-myeloma/about/key-statistics.html#:~:text=Multiple%20myeloma%20is%20a%20relatively,men%20and%
11 American Cancer Society. Multiple myeloma: early detection, diagnosis and staging. https://www.cancer.org/content/dam/CRC/PDF/Public/8740.00.pdf. Accessed October 2022.
12 Rajkumar SV. Multiple myeloma: 2020 update on diagnosis, risk-stratification and management. Am J Hematol. 2020;95(5),548-567. doi:10.1002/ajh.25791.
13 Kumar SK, Dimopoulos MA, Kastritis E, et al. Natural history of relapsed myeloma, refractory to immunomodulatory drugs and proteasome inhibitors: a multicenter IMWG study. Leukemia. 2017;31(11):2443- 2448.
14 Gandhi UH, Cornell RF, Lakshman A, et al. Outcomes of patients with multiple myeloma refractory to CD38- targeted monoclonal antibody therapy. Leukemia. 2019;33(9):2266-2275.
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Source: Legend Biotech