New Kite Clinical Research and Real-World Evidence for Yescarta (Axicabtagene ciloleucel) Demonstrate Benefit From Earlier Lines of Treatment
June 14, 2024 – Biotechnology, Clinical Trials, Drug Discovery – CAR T-cell, EHA 2024, Gilead Sciences, Kite Pharma, R/R LBCL, leukaepheresis, oncology
- Analysis shows manufacturing of axicabtagene ciloleucel in second-line treatment of relapsed/refractory large B-cell lymphoma can help reduce time from leukaepheresis to infusion vs third-line plus treatment
- Data builds on previous evidence on the association between timely infusion and Patient outcomes
- Preliminary results supporting safety and feasibility of outpatient administration of axicabtagene ciloleucel and Tecartus (brexucabtagene autoleucel) to be presented.
14 June 2024 — Stockley Park, UK — Kite, a Gilead Company, today announced results from three new analyses for Yescarta (axicabtagene ciloleucel) in relapsed/refractory (R/R) Large B-cell Lymphoma (LBCL), including both new clinical research and real-world evidence, highlighting manufacturing, product characteristics and outpatient administration of axicabtagene ciloleucel at the 2024 European Haematology Association (EHA) Annual Congress, 13-16 June, Madrid, Spain.
A comparative analysis of real-world and clinical trial data (poster P1425) show higher manufacturing success rate and improved T-cell performance for axicabtagene ciloleucel in second-line versus third-line plus treatment of R/R LBCL CAR T-cell therapy, can help reduce the time from leukaepheresis to cell therapy infusion.
“We are committed to improving survival outcomes for people living with difficult-to-treat blood cancers,” said Ibrahim Elhoussieny MD, VP, Global Head of Medical Affairs, Kite. “This new data supports the potential benefits axicabtagene ciloleucel in earlier lines of treatment, both in terms of manufacturing success and product characteristics. Additional data support the safety and feasibility of administering CAR T-cell therapy in the outpatient setting. These data contribute to the body of evidence for efficient utilisation and delivery of CAR T-cell therapy and further support our ambition for patients.”
Poster P1425
Real-world manufacturing experience of axicabtagene ciloleucel for patients with relapsed or refractory large B-cell lymphoma treated in second line versus third line of therapy and beyond
An analysis of 4,175 patients compared the real-world manufacturing experience and clinical trial product characteristics for patients with R/R LBCL in second-line versus third-line plus treatment. The analysis found a statistically significant higher number of patients with R/R LBCL (95.08% of 1,341 patients) who received axicabtagene ciloleucel as a second-line treatment achieved first-pass manufacturing success rate (FP-MSR); compared with 92.48% of the 2,834 patients treated third-line and beyond. This 2.60% difference suggests that 26 more lots of axicabtagene ciloleucel are successfully manufactured per 1,000 in the first attempt for patients in second-line versus patients in third-line and beyond. The FP-MSR is defined as the ability to manufacture and disposition patient lots within specification at first attempt, critical to maintaining a timely and dependable manufacturing process. Given that higher FP-MSR lessens the need for multiple manufacturing attempts, patients receiving axicabtagene ciloleucel in second-line could potentially experience shorter vein-to-vein times.
Results further assessed the percentage of naïve-like T-cells in apheresis among evaluable patients from ZUMA-1 (third-line) and ZUMA-7 (second-line). The analysis found the median percentage of naïve-like T-cells in patient leukaepheresis was 9.28% (range, 0.20-45.07; n=126; P<.0001) for second-line, versus 4.11% (range, 0.09-56.60; n=100) for third-line plus; demonstrating patients treated in second-line setting displayed a median of approximately two times as many naive-like T-cells versus third-line plus patients. These results indicate capturing a greater naïve-like T-cell population in the initial leukaepheresis material with earlier CAR T-cell therapy intervention, which is numerically associated with improved response.
“This data suggests a notable number of patients living with R/R LBCL could benefit from receiving Axi-Cel as second-line versus third-line treatment and beyond,” said Dr Jason Westin, study lead and director of Lymphoma Clinical Research Programme and section chief of Aggressive Lymphoma research team at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, US. “Patients treated in second-line have both a higher rate of success of having their cell therapy manufactured at the first attempt, as well as twice as many, naïve-like T-cells collected during leukaepheresis, both of which support patients potentially having a shorter vein-to-vein time. When combining these two factors, we hope this will lead to improved patient outcomes.”
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 production and commercial product manufacturing. Visit: www.kitepharma.com.
About Gilead Sciences
Gilead Sciences Inc 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 and cancer. Gilead operates in more than 35 countries worldwide, with headquarters in Foster City, California, US. Gilead acquired Kite in 2017. Visit: www.gilead.com.

