Kite’s CAR T-Cell Therapy YESCARTA (Axicabtagene Ciloleucel) Compared with Bispecifics in R/R DLBCL in Two Analyses at ESMO 2023
October 23, 2023 – Clinical Trials – CAR T-cell, ESMO 2023, Gilead Sciences, Kite Pharma
23 October 2023 — Stockley Park, UK — Kite, a Gilead Company, today announced results from two indirect comparative analyses of its CAR T-cell therapy Yescarta (axicabtagene ciloleucel) versus bispecific antibodies epcoritamab and glofitamab, respectively, for the treatment of relapsed/refractory (R/R) diffuse large B-Cell lymphoma (DLBCL), during the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress, 20-24 October in Madrid, Spain.
In two separate analyses, a Matching-Adjusted Indirect Comparison (MAIC) was conducted of axicabtagene ciloleucel versus glofitamab and epcoritamab, respectively, using published evidence from clinical studies of R/R DLBCL patients treated after at least two prior systemic therapies. Data from the pivotal axicabtagene ciloleucel study (ZUMA-1) were matched to baseline characteristics of glofitamab and epcoritamab studies, respectively, representing clinically relevant prognostic factors (including disease stage, number of prior lines of therapy, ECOG performance status).
Results showed improved progression-free survival (PFS) versus glofitamab [hazard ratio (HR) 0.62 (95% CI, 0.40-0.96)], and versus epcoritamab [HR 0.51 (95% CI, 0.31-0.85)]. Axicabtagene ciloleucel also improved objective response rate (ORR) versus glofitamab [Odds Ratio (OR) 2.32 (95% CI, 1.01-5.33)], with comparable ORR versus epcoritamab [OR 1.55 (95% CI, 0.65-3.69)]. In both analyses, axicabtagene ciloleucel was associated with higher rates of grade ≥3 cytokine release syndrome [vs glofitamab [OR 4.93 (95% CI, 1.42-17.08)] and vs epcoritamab [OR 5.31 (95% CI, 1.21-23.32)], and with higher rates of neurological events reported versus glofitamab [OR 22.59 (95% CI, 7.25-70.36)]. Neurotoxicity of axicabtagene ciloleucel versus epcoritamab was not analysed as definitions in the studies differed.
“CAR T-cell therapies are changing the treatment landscape for survival in relapsed/refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, which historically has a poor clinical prognosis and limited curative treatment potential,” said Dick Sundh, vice president, head of Australia, Canada and Europe (ACE), Kite. “In the absence of randomised controlled clinical trials of CAR T-cell therapies versus bispecific antibodies, treatment comparisons across trials are sometimes necessary to support clinically relevant understanding of these therapies.”
The following Kite spokespeople are available:
- Dick Sundh, Vice President, Head of Australia, Canada and Europe (ACE), Kite
- Dominique Tonelli, Executive Director, Head of Medical Affairs, ACE, Kite
About Kite
Kite, a Gilead Company, is a global biopharmaceutical company based in Santa Monica, California, US, focused on cell therapy to treat and potentially cure cancer. As the global cell therapy leader, Kite has treated more patients with CAR T-cell therapy than any other company. Kite has the largest in-house cell therapy manufacturing network in the world, spanning process development, vector manufacturing, clinical trial supply and commercial product manufacturing.
About Gilead Sciences
Gilead Sciences is a biopharmaceutical company that has pursued and achieved breakthroughs in medicine for more than three decades, with the goal of creating a healthier world for all people. The company is committed to advancing innovative medicines to prevent and treat life-threatening diseases, including HIV, viral hepatitis, COVID-19 and cancer. Gilead operates in more than 35 countries worldwide, with headquarters in Foster City, California, US.
