Commentary
Video
Exploring CAR T-cell Therapy for Rheumatic/Autoimmune Diseases With Georg Schett, MD
Author(s):
Schett discussed findings from 2 early studies of CD19 CAR T-cell therapy.
A pair of studies looking at using CD19-targeted chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapies for treating a variety of refractory autoimmune and rheumatic diseases have demonstrated safety with some preliminary efficacy in early data.1,2
Data from the CASTLE basket study and a phase 1 study of CC-97540 (Bristol Myers Squibb) were presented on November 17th by Georg Schett, MD, Vice President Research and Chair of Internal Medicine, University of Erlangen – Nuremberg at the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) Convergence 2024 in Washington, DC.
HCPLive spoke to Schett while at the meeting about the findings seen in both studies and how they add to the nascent and growing literature of CAR T-cell therapy use in the rheumatological field, namely the diseases included in the studies – systemic lupus erythematosus, systemic sclerosis, and myositis, among others. He also pointed out advantages of developing faster manufacturing processes, such as the process used to manufacture CC-97540, which reduced manufacturing time to 5 days.
“The relapse rate is very low, and there have been occasional relapses reported in the field by other studies, but also with low dose CAR T-cell therapy, because that was the starting dose. So, this has to be interpreted in the right way, and I would say that relapses occur, of course, nothing is 100% but so far, it looks that most of the people enjoy a drug free remission for a long time,” Schett said, commenting on his experience investigating CAR T-cell therapies at University of Erlangen.
Relevant disclosures for Schett include Bristol-Myers Squibb, Cabaletta, Janssen, Kyverna Therapeutics, and Novartis.
REFERENCES
Schett G, Littlejohn E, Kramer N, et al. A Phase 1, Multicenter, Open-Label Study to Establish the Preliminary Tolerability, Efficacy, Pharmacokinetics, and Pharmacodynamics of CC-97540 (BMS-986353), a CD19-directed CAR T Cell Therapy Manufactured Using a Next-generation Process, for Severe, Refractory Autoimmune Diseases. Presented at: ACR Convergence 2024; November 14-19; Washington, DC. Abstract 1753
Schett G, Müller F, Hagen M, et al. Safety and Preliminary Efficacy of CD19 CAR-T Cell Treatment in Rheumatic Disease – Data from the First Part of the Phase I/II CASTLE Basket Study. Presented at: ACR Convergence 2024; November 14-19; Washington, DC. Abstract 1750
