Responses were durable, lasting more than 1 year in several patients, the investigators reported. Phase 2 of the trial – the global pivotal KarMMA trial – is currently enrolling and will dose patients at between 150 and 350 x 106 CAR+ T cells.
Janssen Biotech Inc. (a Johnson & Johnson company) and Legend Biotech USA Inc./Legend Biotech Ireland Limited (of Genscript Biotech Corporation) have also joined forces to develop an anti-BCMA CAR T-cell product for multiple myeloma, Dr. June said.
The companies announced in December that they had entered into “a worldwide collaboration and license agreement” to develop the CAR T-cell drug candidate.
LCAR-B38M is currently accepted for review by the China Food and Drug Administration and is in the planning phase of clinical studies in the United States for multiple myeloma, according to that announcement.