On March 20, 2025 Autolus Therapeutics plc (Nasdaq: AUTL), a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company developing, manufacturing and delivering next-generation programmed T cell therapies, reported its operational and financial results for the full year ended December 31, 2024 (Press release, Autolus, MAR 20, 2025, View Source [SID1234651313]).
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"Reflecting on 2024, it was a year of strong execution leading to significant achievements for Autolus, including our strategic deal with BioNTech and corresponding financing to bolster our balance sheet, commencing GMP operations at our in-house CAR T manufacturing facility, and finishing the year with our first FDA approval and the commercial launch of AUCATZYL," said Dr. Christian Itin, Chief Executive Officer of Autolus. "As a result, we were well positioned to attain our most important goal of bringing this transformative therapy to patients in need. Physician enthusiasm for AUCATZYL is high, demonstrated by the 33 treatment centers we now have fully authorized as of March 19, 2025. We’re encouraged by our launch progress to date."
"As we begin 2025, we have two key objectives: execute on the commercial launch of AUCATZYL in adult ALL both in the U.S. and entering new markets; and establish the next wave of investments to expand the obe-cel opportunity, advance our clinical pipeline and drive future growth. We look forward to discussing our plans to continue to expand our clinical pipeline and strategy at our R&D event in April."
Key updates and anticipated milestones:
AUCATZYL US launch
AUCATZYL was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia on November 8, 2024
AUCATZYL is the first CAR T therapy approved by the FDA with no requirement for a REMS (Risk Evaluation Mitigation Strategy) program
In December 2024, the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) added AUCATZYL (obecabtagene autoleucel) to its Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines) for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed/refractory B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (r/r B-ALL)
The US commercial launch progresses on track, with 33 centers authorized as of March 19, 2025 (versus the Company’s initial target of 30 by the end of Q1 2025), covering approximately 60% of the target U.S. patient population
Patient access to AUCATZYL is progressing well, with coverage secured for greater than 85% of total U.S. medical lives
Autolus continues to expect to complete authorization of 60 treatment centers by the end of 2025, covering approximately 90% of the target patient population
Obe-cel in r/r adult B-ALL – The FELIX Study and regulatory updates
In December 2024, the New England Journal of Medicine published data from the pivotal Phase 1b/2 FELIX clinical trial of obecabtagene autoleucel (obe-cel) in relapsed/refractory (r/r) adult B-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL). The data from the trial demonstrate high rates of durable responses with low incidence of greater than Grade 3 immune-related toxicity
In February 2025, the FDA published a summary of the approval of AUCATZYL on JAMA Insights, citing the product’s complete remission rate
Obe-cel is under regulatory review in both the EU and the U.K., and the Company expects to receive notification of approval status from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and European Medicines Agency (EMA) in H2 2025
Post period, Autolus submitted obe-cel for appraisal by the U.K. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), and a decision is expected at the time of a potential MHRA approval
Autolus has presented updated data on obe-cel in adult ALL at the Society of Hematologic Oncology (SOHO) meeting in August 2024, the Lymphoma, Leukemia & Myeloma Congress in October 2024, the American Society of Hematology (ASH) (Free ASH Whitepaper) Meeting in December 2024, and post-period at TANDEM 2025. The data presented at these conferences builds on previously published obe-cel data, highlighting its tolerability and long-term responses. In addition, a health economic cost model has been presented, directly comparing the cost of serious adverse events across various comparable CAR-T cell therapies.
Abstracts were accepted at the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT) Annual Meeting being held in Florence, Italy, March 30 – April 2, 2025, and the British Society for Haematology Annual Meeting in Glasgow, UK, April 27-29, 2025. The abstracts include review of data on obe-cel in adult ALL and specifically, a sub analysis of patients 55 and older.
Obe-cel in B-cell mediated autoimmune diseases
The Phase 1 dose confirmation clinical trial (CARLYSLE) in refractory systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients is ongoing, with all six patients dosed. Autolus will present the initial data from this trial and development plans at its R&D event being held on April 23, 2025, and is targeting H2 2025 for the presentation of full data with longer term patient follow-up.
Early-stage pipeline programs and collaborations
Clinical programs AUTO8 and AUTO6NG are progressing, and the Company is planning updates for programs at its R&D event which will be held on April 23, 2025.
BioNTech’s product option for AUTO1/22 was not exercised as a result of BioNTech’s pipeline prioritization, and has expired as of February 8, 2025.
Q4 2024 Operational Updates:
The FDA approval for AUCATZYL triggered a $30 million milestone payment to Autolus from Blackstone in accordance with the terms of the collaboration agreement between the parties. In addition, Autolus has made a £10 million regulatory milestone payment to UCL Business Ltd. in accordance with the license agreement between the parties
The Nucleus, Autolus’ proprietary CAR T manufacturing facility designed for 2,000+ batches
per year, is now licensed by the FDA and MHRA to produce commercial supply.