On June 12, 2022 Gracell Biotechnologies Inc. ("Gracell" or the "Company",NASDAQ: GRCL), a global clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to developing highly efficacious and affordable cell therapies for the treatment of cancer, reported the updated clinical data from a multicenter study evaluating GC012F, the Company’s autologous CAR-T therapeutic candidate dual-targeting B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA) and CD19, for the treatment of relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM). Gracell shared the data at the European Hematology Association (EHA) (Free EHA Whitepaper) 2022 Hybrid Congress (EHA2022 Congress), held from June 9-12 in Vienna, Austria (Press release, Gracell Biotechnologies, JUN 12, 2022, View Source [SID1234615914]).
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"The updated data of the final dataset of 29 treated patients underscore the deep responses achieved with GC012F, including a 100% MRD negativity rate in all patients treated," commented Dr. Martina Sersch, Chief Medical Officer of Gracell. "GC012F for the treatment of RRMM continues to demonstrate a favorable safety profile and a promising mDOR of 15.7 months in mostly high risk, heavily pretreated patients, including those with extramedullary disease and those who were previously exposed to PI, IMiDs and anti-CD38 agents. In addition, we presented at EHA (Free EHA Whitepaper) the first-in-human data of GC012F in B-NHL, a potential second indication. We look forward to continuing developing this lead asset and providing a new treatment option to the patients with high unmet needs."
Additionally, on June 10, Gracell presented the first clinical results of the first-in-human phase 1 investigator-initiated study (IIT) in China evaluating the safety and tolerability of GC012F in B-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma patients, and longer-term follow-up results of a safety and efficacy study from an IIT evaluating allogeneic TruUCAR-T GC502 in patients with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Gracell announced these data in a press release on May 12.
BCMA/CD19 Dual-Targeting FasTCAR-T GC012F for the Treatment of RRMM
From October 2019 to January 2022, 29 heavily pretreated RRMM patients were enrolled and treated in this single-arm, open label, multicenter IIT with a single infusion of GC012F at three dose levels: 1×105 cells/kg (DL1), 2×105 cells/kg (DL2), and 3×105 cells/kg (DL3). 90% (26/29) patients were high risk based on mSMART 3.0 criteria and patients had received a median of five prior lines of therapy.
At the data cutoff of June 8, 2022, the 29 patients had been evaluated for response with a median follow-up duration of 11 months, ranging from 4.9 to 34.5 months. Patients continue to be followed for deepening responses. The response rate at different dose levels was 100% (2/2) in DL1, 80% (8/10) in DL2, and 100% (17/17) in DL3. All patients 100% (29/29) achieved minimal residual disease (MRD) negativity. 75.9% (22/29) of all patients treated achieved MRD- sCR. Median duration of response (DOR) at data cut off was 15.7 months (95% CI: 7.6-33.1).
The safety profile of GC012F was consistent with previous findings with mostly low grade of cytokine release syndrome (CRS). 93% (27/29) of events were Grade 0-2 and 7% (2/29) of events were Grade 3. No Grade 4 or 5 CRS, or any Grade immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS) were observed. Patients continue to be monitored for safety and efficacy including best overall response (BOR) and DOR. Due to the COVID-19 related lockdowns at the lead site of the study in Shanghai, China, follow-up assessment visits of certain patients were delayed and Gracell is looking forward to providing further updates in future publications for DOR, ORR, and BOR in all treated patients.
In November 2021, GC012F was granted Orphan Drug Designation for the treatment of multiple myeloma by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Details of the presentation are as follows:
Abstract title: Updated results of a multicenter first-in-human study of BCMA/CD19 dual-targeting FasTCAR-T GC012F for patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM)
Session title: Relapsed/refractory myeloma: BCMA-directed therapies
Presentation time: Sunday, June 12 from 11:30 AM – 12:45 PM CEST
Presentation location: Hall A2-A3
For more information about the EHA (Free EHA Whitepaper)2022 Hybrid Congress, visit www.ehaweb.org.
Clinical update conference call and webcast details
Monday, June 13, 2022 @ 8:00AM ET
Investor domestic dial-in: (833) 693-0545
Investor international dial-in: +1(661) 407-1586
Conference ID: 1820109
Live webcast link: View Source
A replay of the webcast will be available on ir.gracellbio.com shortly after the conclusion of the event for 90 days.
About GC012F
GC012F is a FasTCAR-enabled dual-targeting CAR-T product candidate that is currently being evaluated in IIT studies in China for the treatment of multiple myeloma and B-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. GC012F simultaneously targets CD19 and BCMA to drive fast, deep and durable responses, which can potentially improve efficacy and reduce relapse in multiple myeloma and B-NHL patients.
About FasTCAR
CAR-T cells manufactured on Gracell’s proprietary FasTCAR platform appear younger, less exhausted and show enhanced proliferation, persistence, bone marrow migration and tumor cell clearance activities as demonstrated in preclinical studies. With next-day manufacturing, FasTCAR is able to significantly improve cell production efficiency which may result in meaningful cost savings, and, together with fast release time, enables enhanced accessibility of cell therapies for cancer patients.