On November 3, 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 first clinical data of its ongoing Phase 1, investigator-initiated study in China evaluating FasTCAR-enabled GC012F in newly diagnosed, transplant-eligible, high-risk multiple myeloma (NDMM) patients (Press release, Gracell Biotechnologies, NOV 3, 2022, View Source;exposition-301667106.html [SID1234623053]). The findings will be presented during an oral session at the 64th American Society of Hematology (ASH) (Free ASH Whitepaper) Annual Meeting & Exposition, at 5:15pm CT on Dec. 10, 2022, in New Orleans, Louisiana.
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GC012F is an autologous CAR-T therapeutic candidate dual-targeting B cell maturation antigen (BCMA) and CD19 and is developed using Gracell’s proprietary FasTCAR next-day manufacturing platform.
As of the ASH (Free ASH Whitepaper) abstract data cutoff date July 25, 2022, 13 transplant-eligible, NDMM patients had received GC012F infusion. All patients had one or more high-risk features. After receiving a conditioning chemotherapy of cyclophosphamide and fludarabine, patients were treated with GC012F as a single infusion of one of three dose levels: 1×105 cells/kg (DL1), 2×105 cells/kg (DL2) and 3×105 cells/kg (DL3).
The study is ongoing. As of the ASH (Free ASH Whitepaper) abstract data cutoff date, among the 13 efficacy-evaluable patients with a median follow-up time of 5.3 months (range 2.3-12.5 months):
Overall response rate was 100%
69% of patients had achieved stringent complete response (sCR). Patients continue to be followed for deepening responses
All patients had achieved minimal residual disease (MRD) negativity
In the MRD assessment with EuroFlow for landmark analysis at month 1 and month 6, all evaluable patients were MRD negative at both timepoints
All patients had experienced robust CAR-T cell expansion
The preliminary clinical data is also demonstrating an excellent safety profile:
Only 23% (3/13) patients experienced Grade 1-2 cytokine release syndrome (CRS)
No Grade 3 or higher CRS, and no immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS) of any grade had been observed
Presentation details:
Abstract title: Phase I Open-Label Single-Arm Study of BCMA/CD19 Dual-Targeting FasTCAR-T Cells (GC012F) As First-Line Therapy for Transplant-Eligible Newly Diagnosed High-Risk Multiple Myeloma
Abstract ID: 162295
Session Name: 704. Cellular Immunotherapies: Early Phase and Investigational Therapies: CAR T in Multiple Myeloma and T-cell Therapies After Allo-HCT
Session Date: Saturday, Dec. 10, 2022 from 4-5:30 p.m. CT
Presentation Time: 5:15 p.m. CT
Location: Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, Great Hall A/D
The abstract is now available online on the ASH (Free ASH Whitepaper) website.
"We are excited to present the first clinical data evaluating GC012F as a first-line therapy for multiple myeloma at ASH (Free ASH Whitepaper) 2022, a premier gathering of leading minds in hematology and oncology from around the world. We are thrilled to report that BCMA/CD19 dual targeting FasTCAR-T GC012F is showing a very favorable safety profile and encouraging efficacy in newly-diagnosed multiple myeloma patients," said Dr. Wendy Li, Gracell’s Chief Medical Officer. "We believe the data further validates our proprietary FasTCAR next-day manufacturing platform and the potential of GC012F in treatment for multiple myeloma. Treating newly diagnosed patients will be a new frontier for CAR-T, and we are committed to bringing paradigm-shifting innovation to patients in need."
About GC012F
GC012F is a FasTCAR-enabled BCMA/CD19 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.