Jasper Therapeutics Announces Upcoming Data Presentation on Lead Program, JSP191, at 61st American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting & Exposition

On December 9, 2019 Jasper Therapeutics, Inc., a new biotechnology company focused on enabling safer conditioning and therapeutic agents that expand the application of curative hematopoietic stem cell transplants and gene therapies, reported that initial results from an ongoing Phase 1 dose-escalation study of its lead product candidate, JSP191 (formerly AMG191), will be presented today in an oral session at the American Society of Hematology (ASH) (Free ASH Whitepaper) Annual Meeting & Exposition (Press release, Jasper Therapeutics, DEC 9, 2019, View Source [SID1234552156]).

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JSP191, a humanized antibody targeting CD117, is designed to replace or reduce the toxicity of chemotherapy and radiation therapy as a conditioning regimen to prepare patients for hematopoietic cell transplantation. The Phase 1 clinical trial is evaluating JSP191 as a conditioning agent to enable stem cell transplantation in patients with severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) who received a prior stem cell transplant that had poor outcomes.

"Life-threatening disorders such as SCID, and other conditions including autoimmune diseases and hematologic cancers, can be cured by hematopoietic cell transplantation, and those with certain genetic diseases can be cured with stem cell-directed gene therapies. However, the number of patients who can benefit from these approaches is limited because of the severe toxicity of the chemotherapy used for pre-transplant conditioning that is needed to allow room in the bone marrow for the stem cells to engraft," said Judith Shizuru, M.D., Ph.D., co-founder and member of the Board of Directors of Jasper Therapeutics. "We are encouraged by the initial Phase 1 study results of JSP191 in these fragile patients with SCID and plan to expand clinical development of this antibody beyond patients with SCID. We expect to initiate clinical trials of JSP191 in 2020 to evaluate it as a conditioning agent in patients undergoing hematopoietic cell therapy for acute myeloid leukemia, myelodysplastic syndrome and Fanconi anemia, and IND-enabling studies for sickle cell disease and autoimmune indications."

Details of the oral presentation follow:

Abstract Title: Non-Genotoxic Anti-CD117 Antibody Conditioning Results in Successful Hematopoietic Stem Cell Engraftment in Patients with Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (abstract #800)
Session Name: 721. Clinical Allogeneic Transplantation: Conditioning Regimens, Engraftment, and Acute Transplant Toxicities: Innovative Approaches in Allogeneic Transplantation for Pediatric or Nonmalignant Disorders
Presenter: Rajni Agarwal, M.D., Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Stem Cell Transplantation, the Stanford University School of Medicine
Time: 3:00 p.m. ET
Location: W311EFGH, Level 3, Orange County Convention Center

About Stem Cell Transplantation

Blood-forming, or hematopoietic, stem cells are cells that reside in the bone marrow and are responsible for the generation and maintenance of all blood and immune cells. These stem cells can harbor inherited or acquired abnormalities that lead to a variety of disease states, including immune deficiencies, blood disorders or hematologic cancers. Successful transplantation of hematopoietic stem cells is the only cure for most of these life-threatening conditions. Replacement of the defective or malignant hematopoietic stem cells in the patient’s bone marrow is currently achieved by subjecting patients to toxic treatment with radiation and/or chemotherapy that cause DNA damage and lead to short- and long-term toxicities, including immune suppression and prolonged hospitalization. As a result, many patients who could benefit from a stem cell transplant are not eligible. New approaches that are effective but have minimal to no toxicity are urgently needed so more patients who could benefit from a curative stem cell transplant could receive the procedure.

Safer and more effective hematopoietic cell transplantation regimens could overcome these limitations and enable the broader application of hematopoietic cell transplants in the cure of many disorders. These disorders include hematologic cancers (e.g., myelodysplastic syndrome [MDS] and acute myeloid leukemia [AML]), autoimmune diseases (e.g., lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis and Type 1 diabetes), and genetic diseases that could be cured with genetically-corrected autologous stem cells (e.g., severe combined immunodeficiency syndrome [SCID], sickle cell disease, beta thalassemia, Fanconi anemia and other monogenic diseases).

About JSP191

JSP191 (formerly AMG191) is a first-in-class humanized monoclonal antibody in clinical development as a conditioning agent that clears hematopoietic stem cells from bone marrow. JSP191 binds to human CD117, a receptor for stem cell factor (SCF) that is expressed on the surface of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells. The interaction of SCF and CD117 is required for stem cells to survive. JSP191 blocks SCF from binding to CD117 and disrupts critical survival signals, causing the stem cells to undergo cell death and creating an empty space in the bone marrow for donor or gene-corrected transplanted cells to engraft.

Preclinical studies have shown that JSP191 as a single agent safely depletes normal and diseased hematopoietic stem cells, including in an animal model of MDS. This creates the space needed for transplanted normal donor or gene-corrected hematopoietic stem cells to successfully engraft in the host bone marrow. To date, JSP191 has been evaluated in more than 80 healthy volunteers and patients. It is currently being evaluated as a sole conditioning agent in a Phase 1 dose-escalation trial to achieve donor stem cell engraftment in patients undergoing hematopoietic cell transplant for SCID, which is curable only by this type of treatment. For more information about the design of the clinical trial, visit www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT02963064). Clinical development of JSP191 will be expanded to also study patients with AML or MDS who are receiving hematopoietic cell transplant.

Horizon Therapeutics plc to Present at the 38th Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference

On December 9, 2019 Horizon Therapeutics plc (Nasdaq: HZNP) reported that the Company will participate in the 38th Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference (Press release, Horizon Therapeutics, DEC 9, 2019, View Source [SID1234552172]). Timothy Walbert, chairman, president and chief executive officer will present at 5 p.m. PT on Jan. 15, 2020.

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The conference presentation will be webcast live and may be accessed by visiting Horizon’s website at View Source A replay of the webcast will be available for the event.

ADC Therapeutics Announces Oral Presentation of Interim Efficacy Data from Pivotal Phase 2 Clinical Trial of ADCT-402 (Loncastuximab Tesirine) in Patients with Relapsed or Refractory Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma at 61st ASH Annual Meeting

On December 9, 2021 ADC Therapeutics SA, a clinical-stage oncology-focused biotechnology company pioneering the development of highly potent antibody drug conjugates (ADCs) for patients suffering from hematological malignancies and solid tumors, reported interim efficacy and safety data on 52 patients in the ongoing pivotal 145-patient Phase 2 clinical trial of ADCT-402 (loncastuximab tesirine), demonstrating its potential as a single agent for the treatment of relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) (Press release, ADC Therapeutics, DEC 9, 2019, View Source [SID1234596051]). Carmelo Carlo-Stella, MD, Section Chief, Lymphoid Malignancies and Cancer Therapeutics, Humanitas Cancer Center, Humanitas University, and an investigator for the trial, presented the data today during an oral session at the 61st American Society of Hematology (ASH) (Free ASH Whitepaper) Annual Meeting in Orlando, FL.

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"The data continue to reinforce the significant single-agent, anti-tumor activity and manageable toxicity profile of ADCT-402 in patients with relapsed or refractory DLBCL, even in difficult-to-treat patients. Based on the encouraging data seen with this agent today, I believe ADCT-402 has the potential to be an integral part of the treatment paradigm for patients with DLBCL," said Dr. Carlo-Stella. "DLBCL is a common and aggressive cancer that can be challenging to treat due to its frequent resistance to available treatments. Patients who have failed established therapies are limited in their treatment options, creating a critical need for a new therapy."

"We are pleased that the data from our oral presentation at ASH (Free ASH Whitepaper) support the potential of ADCT-402 to be an important treatment option for heavily pretreated patients with DLBCL," said Jay Feingold, MD, PhD, Senior Vice President, Chief Medical Officer and Head of Oncology Clinical Development at ADC Therapeutics. "We look forward to completing the pivotal Phase 2 clinical trial and submitting a Biologics License Application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for accelerated approval of ADCT-402 for the treatment of relapsed or refractory DLBCL patients who have failed two or more treatment regimens in the second half of 2020."

The oral presentation included data, as of October 4, 2019, on 52 patients from the pivotal Phase 2 clinical trial of ADCT-402 (loncastuximab tesirine) who were a median age of 63 years (range 24-84) and had received a median of three previous therapies. Key data include:

The overall response rate (ORR) was 46.2% (24/52 patients), comprising 19.2% complete responses and 26.9% partial responses. Comparably, the ORR in the Phase 1 trial of ADCT-402 (loncastuximab tesirine) at the initial dose used in Phase 2 was 41.4% (29/70 patients), comprising 21.4% complete responses and 20% partial responses. The primary endpoint in the pivotal Phase 2 clinical trial is ORR.
For complete responders, the median duration of response has not yet been reached. For complete and partial responders, the preliminary median duration of response is 5.7 months.
Stable disease was attained in 19.2% of patients.
ADCT-402 (loncastuximab tesirine) demonstrated manageable toxicity in patients with relapsed or refractory DLBCL. The most common grade ≥3 treatment-emergent adverse events in at least 5% of patients were: gamma-glutamyltransferase increased (25%), hypokalemia (5.8%), platelet count decreased (21.2%), neutrophil count decreased (32.7%) and anemia (11.5%).
The ongoing single-arm, multi-center, open-label Phase 2 clinical trial is evaluating the safety, efficacy and pharmacokinetics of ADCT-402 (loncastuximab tesirine) as a monotherapy in patients with relapsed or refractory DLBCL. Patients received 30-minute intravenous infusions of ADCT-402 (loncastuximab tesirine) once every three weeks at a dose of 150 μg/kg for the first two cycles, followed by 75 μg/kg for subsequent cycles for up to one year or until disease progression, unacceptable toxicity, or other discontinuation criteria, whichever occurred first.

The presentation will be available on the Posters and Presentations page and a video of the investor event ADC Therapeutics hosted on Sunday, December 8 will be available on the Videos page of the Company’s website: View Source

About ADCT-402 (loncastuximab tesirine)
ADCT-402 (loncastuximab tesirine) is an antibody drug conjugate (ADC) composed of a humanized monoclonal antibody directed against human CD19 and conjugated through a linker to a pyrrolobenzodiazepine (PBD) dimer cytotoxin. Once bound to a CD19-expressing cell, ADCT-402 (loncastuximab tesirine) is designed to be internalized by the cell, following which the warhead is released. The warhead is designed to bind irreversibly to DNA to create highly potent interstrand cross-links that block DNA strand separation, thus disrupting essential DNA metabolic processes such as replication and ultimately resulting in cell death. CD19 is a clinically validated target for the treatment of B-cell malignancies. ADCT-402 (loncastuximab tesirine) is being evaluated in a pivotal Phase 2 clinical trial in patients with relapsed or refractory (R/R) diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) (NCT03589469), a Phase 1b trial in combination with ibrutinib in patients with R/R DLBCL or mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) (NCT03684694) and a Phase 1b trial in combination with durvalumab in patients with R/R DLBCL, MCL or follicular lymphoma (NCT03685344). The U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted orphan drug designation to ADCT-402 (loncastuximab tesirine) for the treatment of R/R DLBCL and MCL.

Avid Bioservices Reports Financial Results for Second Quarter Fiscal 2020 and Recent Developments

On December 9, 2019 Avid Bioservices, Inc. (NASDAQ:CDMO) (NASDAQ:CDMOP), a dedicated biologics contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) working to improve patient lives by providing high quality development and manufacturing services to biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, reported financial results for the second quarter of fiscal 2020 ended October 31, 2019 (Press release, Avid Bioservices, DEC 9, 2019, View Source [SID1234552106]).

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Highlights Since July 31, 2019

"During the second quarter of 2020, we strengthened multiple core areas of our business," said Rick Hancock, interim president and chief executive officer of Avid. "Our business development effort continues to be wide reaching and robust. Our reputation in the industry for quality and regulatory success continues to grow allowing us to engage with a broadening pool of potential new customers and expand our relationships with existing customers.

"Operationally, we continue to improve and enhance our equipment, facilities and systems. The opening of our new process development lab, the successful completion of our annual maintenance overhaul, and the planned installation of a new pharmaceutical grade water system in calendar 2020 all reflect the dedication we have to maintaining the highest standards possible.

"The revenues for this quarter were the highest since Avid transitioned to a pure-play CDMO in January 2018, and we achieved 18% gross margin, which represents a significant increase year-over-year as well as quarter-over-quarter. Expenses remained in line with expectations and our backlog continues to be strong. Also important, during the quarter we approached breakeven income from operations.

"Productivity and efficiency contributed significantly to Avid’s strong second quarter results, and we expect that our financial performance will continue to track positively with these factors. We believe that Avid has turned an important corner, creating a stronger platform from which to achieve sustainable profitability."

Financial Highlights and Guidance

The company is confirming prior revenue guidance for the full fiscal year 2020 of $64 million – $67 million.

Revenue was $18.3 million for the second quarter of fiscal 2020, an increase of 80% as compared to $10.2 million for the second quarter of last fiscal year. For the six months ended October 31, 2019, revenues were $33.6 million, a 47% increase as compared to revenues of $22.8 million during the prior period. Increases during both current-year periods were primarily due to an increase in the number of in-process and completed manufacturing runs as a result of growing demand from a more diversified client base.

As of October 31, 2019, revenue backlog was approximately $52 million, a decrease of 16% as compared to the first quarter of fiscal 2020. The company expects to recognize the majority of this backlog within the next 12 months.

Gross margin for the second quarter of fiscal 2020 of 18% was up significantly compared to a gross margin of 3% in the prior period. Gross margin for the six months ended October 31, 2019 was 13%, up significantly compared to 7% in the prior period. These increases were primarily attributed to the increased number of manufacturing runs, partially offset by costs associated with the hiring of personnel to accommodate growth in production demand, increases in other compensation expenses, and equipment repairs.

Selling, general and administrative expenses ("SG&A") for the second quarter of fiscal 2020 were $3.5 million compared to $2.8 million for the second quarter of last year. The increase was primarily attributed to payroll and related costs, and stock-based compensation. For the first six months of fiscal 2020, SG&A expenses were $8.0 million compared to $6.0 million for the first six months of fiscal 2019. The increases in SG&A during the six-month period were primarily attributed to payroll and related costs, including one-time employee separation-related expenses, and increased stock-based compensation.

In September 2019, the company recognized a one-time loss of $0.4 million in connection with the termination of a non-manufacturing facility lease, which reduces our future lease and related payments by approximately $1.3 million over the next four years. Additionally, the lease termination released $0.3 million of restricted cash that was pledged as collateral under a letter of credit required by the terminated lease back to the company. The lease termination of this redundant warehouse space has no impact on our future expansion plans, as the company continues to have 42,000 square feet available within our Myford facility.

For the second quarter of fiscal 2020, the company recorded a consolidated net loss attributable to common stockholders of $1.9 million or $0.03 per share, compared to a consolidated net loss attributable to common stockholders of $2.9 million or $0.05 per share, for the prior year period. For the first six months of fiscal 2020, the company recorded a consolidated net loss attributable to common stockholders of $6.1 million or $0.11 per share, compared to a consolidated net loss attributable to common stockholders of $5.9 million or $0.11 per share, for the prior year period.

Avid reported $34.0 million in cash and cash equivalents as of October 31, 2019, compared to $32.4 million on April 30, 2019.
More detailed financial information and analysis may be found in Avid Bioservices’ Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, which will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission today.

Recent Corporate Developments

Launched expanded process development (PD) facility and services. This purpose-built state-of-the-art facility, which houses Avid’s expanded upstream and downstream process development capabilities, represents an important new opportunity for the company by allowing us to expand our existing relationships and attract new business by offering support to customers that seek to outsource their PD work.

Expanded scope of work with multiple existing customers to increase the number of manufacturing batches and/or scale of production.

Appointed Richard (Rich) Richieri as chief operations officer. Mr. Richieri will oversee Process Development, Clinical and Commercial Manufacturing, Technical Support and Facilities. In this role, Mr. Richieri will be focused on streamlining operations, building internal efficiencies and strategic planning for future growth. Mr. Richieri has over 25 years of biopharmaceutical industry experience spanning the areas of drug discovery, CGMP operations, contract manufacturing and process development. Mr. Richieri previously spent 15 years with Avid Bioservices and its former parent company, Peregrine Pharmaceuticals, including the role of senior vice president of manufacturing. During that time, he was instrumental in launching, building and growing Avid’s CDMO business and helping the company diversify its production capabilities.

Initiated final design stage for the construction of a new pharmaceutical grade water system in the Myford facility. Installation of this system will supply water to multiple manufacturing systems, a critical step in creating the manufacturing efficiencies required to increase output and strengthen margins. The company expects the system to be installed in calendar 2020.
Conference Call

Avid will host a conference call and webcast this afternoon, December 9, 2019, at 4:30 PM ET (1:30 PM PT).

To listen to the conference call, please dial (877) 312-5443 or (253) 237-1126 and request the Avid Bioservices conference call. To listen to the live webcast, or access the archived webcast, please visit: View Source

Novartis Kymriah® demonstrates consistent efficacy and safety outcomes in US patients when used in real-world setting

On December 9, 2019 Novartis reported results from two analyses of real-world experience with Kymriah (tisagenlecleucel), the only CAR-T cell therapy approved in two distinct indications (Press release, Novartis, DEC 9, 2019, View Source [SID1234552123]). These analyses are from a readout of a 15-year post-marketing study that add to and complement the rigor of the Kymriah pivotal trials with evidence of the Kymriah real-world experience in expanded groups of patients. When Kymriah was used in the real-world setting, efficacy and safety were consistent when compared to the pivotal trials, including the 24-month analysis of JULIET in adults with r/r diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and ELIANA in children and young adults with r/r B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL)1-6. The real-world experience data were presented at the 61st American Society of Hematology (ASH) (Free ASH Whitepaper) annual meeting.

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"With increased experience supplemented by real world data, physicians like myself have a better understanding of Kymriah and its safety profile," said lead author of this real-world experience analysis, Samantha Jaglowski, MD, The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC – James). "This along with the current practice of supportive care for CAR-T therapy provides the ability to routinely use this therapy in the hospital outpatient setting, which can reduce financial burden on patients and hospitals alike1,7."

Real-world experience with Kymriah in adults with r/r DLBCL

Efficacy
Efficacy outcomes for patients who received Kymriah in the real-world setting were similar to those demonstrated in JULIET. In this analysis of 80 patients with r/r DLBCL for whom three or more months of post-infusion outcomes were available, the overall response rate (ORR) was 58% including 40% who achieved a complete response (CR). Median follow-up was 4.5 months1. In the 24-month analysis of the JULIET trial, ORR was 52% and CR was 38% (N=115) 3.

Safety
The anticipation and management of adverse events of CAR-T cell therapy have been crucial to successful administration of this innovative and relatively new type of therapy. In this analysis of real-world experience with Kymriah (safety set, N=83), the rate of grade 3 or higher cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and neurologic events were approximately 4% and 5%, respectively, as compared to 23% and 11% in the JULIET clinical trial (safety set, N=115), suggesting safety outcomes appear more favorable. The real-world analysis used the grading scales ASTCT for CRS and ICANs for neurologic events, whereas the JULIET trial used the Penn Grading Scale for CRS and MedDRA SMQ for neurologic events1,3.

Further, for patients who had CRS, tocilizumab and corticosteroids were administered in 20% and 4% of patients, respectively, in the real-world setting, and in 27% and 19% of patients, respectively, in the JULIET trial8. Some patients in the real-world setting received tocilizumab earlier than in the clinical trial experience, indicating earlier use of supportive care may mitigate rates of high-grade CRS9. A total of 14 DLBCL patients died after treatment, all due to disease progression, however no deaths were attributed to toxicities from Kymriah1.

Patient and product characteristics
More patients in the real-word analysis had a worse performance status, and on average, these patients were older and had received more lines of therapy than those treated in the JULIET trial1-3.

Cell viability is one of many product release specifications for Kymriah. The commercial specification for the viability specification of Kymriah in the United States is set at greater than or equal to 80%. For all other markets where KYMRIAH is approved, the cell viability specification is greater than or equal to 70%. In this US real-world analysis, 29 of the 102 patients with evaluable data received product that was below 80% cell viability. Efficacy and safety for patients receiving product with cell viability below the commercial specification was the same as those receiving commercial Kymriah1.

These data on the use of Kymriah in r/r DLBCL in the real-world setting will be presented in an oral session at the ASH (Free ASH Whitepaper) annual meeting (Abstract # 766; Monday, December 9, 3:30 PM EST).

"As pioneers in bringing CAR-T cell therapy to patients, our dedication to reimagining how CAR-T cell therapy can impact patients in the future remains steadfast," said Susanne Schaffert, PhD, President, Novartis Oncology. "Our efforts include gathering and sharing real-world evidence, expanding and improving our manufacturing capacity and technology and going broader and deeper in our clinical research with Kymriah and other CAR-T cell therapies."

Real-world experience with Kymriah in children and young adults with r/r ALL

Efficacy outcomes were similar and safety outcomes appear to be more favorable in the real world setting compared to the ELIANA pivotal trial4-6. Among 146 children and young adult patients with r/r ALL treated in the real world setting for whom three or more months of post-infusion outcomes were available, CR was 85% as compared to 82% in the ELIANA trial (n=79). Median follow-up in the real-world analysis was 6 months. In this analysis (safety set, N=154), the rate of grade 3 or higher CRS and neurologic events were 14% and 8%, respectively, as compared to 48% and 13% in the ELIANA clinical trial. The real-world analysis used the grading scales ASTCT for CRS and ICANs for neurologic events, whereas the ELIANA trial used the Penn Grading Scale for CRS and MedDRA SMQ for neurologic events4-6.
"It is exciting to see how oncologists are using Kymriah and how patients are responding to it in routine clinical practice," said Stephan A. Grupp, MD, PhD, Director of the Cancer Immunotherapy Program and Section Chief of Cell Therapy and Transplant at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, and a Professor of Pediatrics in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. "We are seeing broader efficacy data that replicate what we saw in the pivotal trial, and the collection of these data is ensuring that we are getting a clear view of adverse events when administering Kymriah."

These data on the use of Kymriah in r/r pediatric ALL in the real-world setting will be presented in a poster presentation at the ASH (Free ASH Whitepaper) annual meeting (Abstract #2619; Sunday, December 8, 6:00 – 8:00 PM EST).

The collection of this real-world experience data was made possible by a collaboration between the CIBMTR (Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research – the research collaboration between the National Marrow Donor Program/Be The Match and the Medical College of Wisconsin) and Novartis, developed to capture long-term follow-up of recipients of Kymriah who agree to participate in the registry. For patients whose cell viability was below 80%, product is provided through an established EAP program and long-term follow-up is captured through the CIBMTR. Globally, 90% patients who have been prescribed Kymriah have received the final manufactured product, either commercially, or when out of commercial specification.

Kymriah (tisagenlecleucel, formerly CTL019) US Important Safety information
Kymriah may cause side effects that are severe or life-threatening, such as Cytokine Release Syndrome (CRS) or Neurological Toxicities. Patients with CRS may experience symptoms including difficulty breathing, fever (100.4°F/38°C or higher), chills/shaking chills, severe nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, severe muscle or joint pain, very low blood pressure, or dizziness/lightheadedness. Patients may be admitted to the hospital for CRS and treated with other medications.

Patients with neurological toxicities may experience symptoms such as altered or decreased consciousness, headaches, delirium, confusion, agitation, anxiety, seizures, difficulty speaking and understanding, or loss of balance. Patients should be advised to call their healthcare provider or get emergency help right away if they experience any of these signs and symptoms of CRS or neurological toxicities.

Because of the risk of CRS and neurological toxicities, Kymriah is only available through a restricted program under a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) called Kymriah REMS.

Serious allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, may occur after Kymriah infusion. Kymriah can increase the risk of life-threatening infections that may lead to death. Patients should be advised to tell their healthcare provider right away if they develop fever, chills, or any signs or symptoms of an infection.

Patients may experience prolonged low blood cell counts (cytopenia), where one or more types of blood cells (red blood cells, white blood cells, or platelets) are decreased. The patient’s healthcare provider will do blood tests to check all of their blood cell counts after treatment with Kymriah. Patients should be advised to tell their healthcare provider right away if they get a fever, are feeling tired, or have bruising or bleeding.

Patients may experience hypogammaglobulinemia, a condition in which the level of immunoglobulins (antibodies) in the blood is low and the risk of infection is increased. It is expected that patients may develop hypogammaglobulinemia with Kymriah, and may need to receive immunoglobulin replacement for an indefinite amount of time following treatment with Kymriah. Patients should tell their healthcare provider about their treatment with Kymriah before receiving a live virus vaccine.

After treatment with Kymriah, patients will be monitored lifelong by their healthcare provider, as they may develop secondary cancers or recurrence of their cancer.

Patients should not drive, operate heavy machinery, or do other dangerous activities for eight weeks after receiving Kymriah because the treatment can cause temporary memory and coordination problems, including sleepiness, confusion, weakness, dizziness, and seizures.
Some of the most common side effects of Kymriah are difficulty breathing, fever (100.4°F/38°C or higher), chills/shaking chills, confusion, severe nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, severe muscle or joint pain, very low blood pressure, dizziness/lightheadedness, and headache. However, these are not all of the possible side effects of Kymriah. Patients should talk to their healthcare provider for medical advice about side effects.

Prior to a female patient starting treatment with Kymriah, their healthcare provider may do a pregnancy test. There is no information available for Kymriah use in pregnant or breast-feeding women. Therefore, Kymriah is not recommended for women who are pregnant or breast feeding. Patients should talk to their healthcare provider about birth control and pregnancy.

Patients should tell their healthcare provider about all the medicines they take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
After receiving Kymriah, patients should be advised that some commercial HIV tests may cause a false-positive test result. Patients should also be advised not to donate blood, organs, or tissues and cells for transplantation after receiving Kymriah.