Kite, a Gilead Company (Nasdaq: GILD), has presented encouraging data from various studies on the CAR T-cell therapies Tecartus® (brexucabtagene autoleucel) and Yescarta® (axicabtagene ciloleucel), showing substantial long-term survival benefits for patients with certain types of relapsed or refractory (R/R) non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
For Tecartus®, the ZUMA-2 study, with nearly four years of follow-up, reported a median overall survival (OS) of 46.4 months in adult patients with R/R Mantle Cell Lymphoma (MCL) who had previously undergone multiple lines of therapy. From the 68 patients involved, 44% were alive at the time of data cutoff, and those who achieved a complete response (CR) had a median OS of 58.7 months. Complementing this data, ZUMA-18, an expanded access study, showed an 87% investigator-assessed objective response rate (ORR) with a 57% CR rate.
In the realm of Yescarta®, three studies provided follow-ups suggesting durable treatment effects and potential curative intent. The ZUMA-1 post-hoc analysis with six years of follow-up in patients with refractory large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL) discovered that those maintaining a CR at 12 and 24 months post-treatment had a 72-month estimated disease-specific survival (DSS) of 94.4% and 100%, respectively, signaling a possibly extended OS. The ZUMA-5 study with a four-year follow-up in relapsed/refractory follicular lymphoma demonstrated continued response and survival, while the ZUMA-7 subgroup analysis indicated that patients aged 65 and older can benefit from CAR T therapy without age being a barrier.
Real-world evidence (RWE) additionally highlighted Tecartus®’s effectiveness in adult patients with R/R MCL, with a CR rate of 81% overall and 84% for high-risk features, and a 76% complete remission rate in patients with R/R B-Cell Precursor Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (B-ALL), further supporting its use in aggressive blood cancers.
Dr. Frank Neumann from Kite expressed optimism in the ASH meeting presentations, affirming the pattern of extended survival outcomes and the importance of these therapies as transformative options. These results contribute to Kite’s ongoing commitment to developing treatments that can provide hope and improved quality of life for patients with challenging blood cancers.
Jon Napitupulu is Director of Media Relations at The Clinical Trial Vanguard. Jon, a computer data scientist, focuses on the latest clinical trial industry news and trends.
