Bristol-Myers Squibb has discovered Abecma® as a CAR T therapy for treating patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma in Japan.
Abecma stands as the pioneering BCMA-directed CAR T cell immunotherapy. It identifies and attaches to BCMA present on multiple myeloma cells, prompting CAR T cell multiplication and cytokine release, ultimately leading to the breakdown and demise of BCMA-expressing cells.
ABECMA (idecabtagene vicleucel) is a specialised T cell immunotherapy genetically engineered to target the B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA). It's specifically designed for treating adult patients experiencing relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma following at least four prior lines of therapy, incorporating an immunomodulatory agent, a proteasome inhibitor, and an anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody.
The KarMMa-3 (BB2121-MM-003) trial is a significant Phase 3 study characterised as open-label and global. It aims to assess Abecma in comparison to standard therapies among patients with relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma. These individuals have undergone two to four prior lines of treatment, inclusive of an immunomodulatory agent, a proteasome inhibitor, and daratumumab. Moreover, they exhibited refractoriness to the most recent treatment regimen.
Multiple myeloma, with its recurring relapses and challenging cure rates using current therapies, leaves limited options for RRMM patients. Abecma, the initial CAR T cell therapy approved for earlier use, addresses these unmet needs.
Abecma® has received approval as the first CAR T therapy authorised for earlier treatment stages among patients in Japan facing relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma.
