A New Target for CAR T Cells Achieves Remission in Resistant Pediatric B-ALL
November 22nd 2017An early-stage trial in pediatric and young adult patients with relapsed/refractory B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) has found that modifying the chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells to target the CD22 receptor achieved remission.
What We're Reading: Gene Therapy Guidelines; Opioid Overdose Costs; Unaware of Open Enrollment
November 17th 2017The FDA issued new guidelines to speed up the review process for gene therapies; a new report calculates the potential societal benefits of eliminating the opioid epidemic; and one-third of Americans are unaware that the ACA's open enrollment season has begun.
FDA Grants BCMA CAR T-Cell Therapy Breakthrough Designation in Myeloma
November 17th 2017The FDA has granted the the anti–B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA) chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy bb2121 a breakthrough therapy designation for previously treated patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma.
Brentuximab Vedotin Nears European Approval for CTCL
November 15th 2017The European Medicines Agency’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use has recommended approval of brentuximab vedotin (Adcetris) in adults with CD30-positive cutaneous T-cell lymphoma after at least 1 prior systemic therapy.
JCAR015 Experience Informs Future CAR-T Studies
November 11th 2017The high rates of cerebral edema seen with JCAR015 in the phase II ROCKET trial were attributed to early and rapid chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-modified T-cell expansion and a rise in interleukin-15 levels, a finding that could help inform future CAR T-cell usage.
Developer Applies for Use of CAR T-Cell Therapy in DLBCL
November 6th 2017Novartis has submitted an application to the FDA to extend the indications for its CAR T-cell therapy tisagenlecleucel (Kymriah) for its use in adult patients with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma who are not eligible for autologous stem cell transplant.
Personalized Medicine Moving to Forefront of Hematologic Malignancies
November 3rd 2017Edward A. Stadtmauer, MD, sheds light on the future of chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy, systemic therapeutic advances in the field of acute myeloid leukemia, and remaining challenges in the multiple myeloma paradigm.