Doris Hansen, MD, assistant member, Moffitt Cancer Center department of blood and marrow transplant and cellular immunotherapy, discusses the utilization of BCMA-directed therapy in multiple myeloma.

his is an exciting time for the treatment of patients with multiple myeloma, as several agents have been approved in the past few years, Hansen says. However, patients have passive responses with some treatments, which causes them to relapse, Hansen adds.

Moreover, future progress with BCMA-directed therapies is indicative of disease or tumor burden; therefore, as you lower the level of tumor burden, patients tend to derive a durable and deeper type of response, Hansen continues. Although BCMA-targeted therapies should be continually utilized for patients, the future lies in identifying additional optimal targets for treatment, such as CD38 or GPRC5D, Hansen says. Utilizing novel targeted therapies elicit more durable responses, Hansen concludes.

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Doris Hansen, MD, discusses the utilization of BCMA-directed therapy in multiple myeloma. 


Dr. Hansen on the Utilization of BCMA-Directed Therapy in Multiple Myeloma 

Doris Hansen, MD, assistant member, Moffitt Cancer Center, Department of Blood and Marrow Transplant and Cellular Immunotherapy, discusses the promise of ALLO-715 in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma.

ALLO-715 is a novel CAR T-cell therapy directed toward BCMA. Unlike autologous CAR T-cell therapies, ALLO-715 is an allogeneic, off-the-shelf product that has the potential to mitigate manufacturing challenges encountered with the autologous approach, Hansen explains.

Furthermore, many patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma experience disease progression during the period required for autologous CAR T-cell therapy generation. With ALLO-715, patients can receive their infusion within a period of 5 days, Hansen says. 

Initial findings from the ongoing phase 1 UNIVERSAL trial (NCT04093596) demonstrated an overall response rate of 60% with a 320 x 106 dose of CAR cells in 6 patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma. Four patients treated at this dose level achieved at least a very good partial response and minimal residual disease negativity. 

On April 21, 2021, the FDA granted ALLO-715 a Regenerative Medicine Advanced Therapy designation as a potential treatment for patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma.

Doris Hansen, MD, discusses the promise of ALLO-715 in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma. Scroll to 0:07 in the video for Dr. Hansen's topline points on the agent. 



Dr. Hansen on the Promise of ALLO-715 in Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma 

Doris Hansen, MD, assistant member, Moffitt Cancer Center department of blood and marrow transplant and cellular immunotherapy, discusses the progression-free survival (PFS) benefit yielded by idecabtagene vicleucel (ide-cel; Abecma) on the phase 2 KarMMa trial (NCT03361748) in patients with pretreated relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma.

The phase 2 KarMMa trial (NCT03361748) demonstrated an overall response rate of 73% in all patients treated with ide-cel and the median PFS was 8.6 months in patients with R/R MM.

The study examined the safety and efficacy of ide-cel in this patient population and was pivotal because it provided a new novel therapy to those who otherwise have limited options, according to Hansen. Patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma often have a median PFS of 2 to 3 months, according to Hansen. However, patients who receive a BCMA-targeted CAR T-cell therapy experience improved outcomes, Hansen continues.

For example, results from the KarMMa study showed that patients who achieved a deep response with ide-cel, or a complete remission or better, had a median PFS of approximately 22 months, and a duration of response of 21 months. These results held up with a longer follow-up, Hansen concludes. 

Doris Hansen, MD, discusses the progression-free survival benefit yielded by idecabtagene vicleucel on the phase 2 KarMMa trial in patients with pretreated relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma.

Doris Hansen, MD

Articles

Dr. Hansen on the Utilization of BCMA-Directed Therapy in Multiple Myeloma

Dr. Hansen on the Promise of ALLO-715 in Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma

Dr. Hansen on the PFS Benefit With Ide-Cel in Relapsed/Refractory MM