New BCMA-targeted therapies could help sicker patients

Oral abstracts at this year’s American Society of Hematology meeting describing next generation anti-BCMA CARs from Poseida Therapeutics Inc. and Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and a bispecific antibody from Amgen Inc. (NASDAQ:AMGN) hint that the improvements offered by the products will help the class treat patients who are sicker or more vulnerable to toxicities.

Amgen presented first-in-human Phase I data for AMG 420, a bispecific T cell engager (BiTE) antibody construct targeting BCMA (tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily member 17; TNFRSF17; CD269) and CD3. Responses were seen in seven of 10 (70%) relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma patients who received the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of 400 µg/day...