Weekend ASH presentations hint at future of BCMA CARs

Enhanced persistence and redirection of universal cells are among approaches companies are using to create the next generation of BCMA (tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily member 17; TNFRSF17; CD269)-targeted CAR T cell therapies for multiple myeloma, according to two oral abstracts presented at the American Society of Hematology meeting in San Diego over the weekend.

Treatment with bb21217, an anti-BCMA CAR T cell therapy from bluebird bio Inc. (NASDAQ:BLUE) and Celgene Corp. (NASDAQ:CELG), led to an objective response rate (ORR) of 83% among 12 evaluable patients, including three complete responses (CRs), two very good partial responses (VGPRs) and four PRs. Minimal residual disease (MRD)-negative status occurred in all four responders who had evaluable bone marrow samples. The data, which were from the Phase I CRB-402 trial in adults with relapsed or refractory MM, were reported on Sunday by University of California San Francisco Associate Professor Nina Shah...