Susan Bal, MD, on Promising Efficacy With GPRC5D-CAR Therapy in R/R Multiple Myeloma

“With BMS-986393, we have seen a lower profile of skin and nail toxicities, we have seen a much-improved profile of high-grade infection. So to me - it's very early, but - I imagine GPRC5D- directed therapies preceding BCMA [directed therapies]. And of course, thenthere's the question of do they need to be sequenced? Or can we combine them, particularly in patients with high-risk characteristics such as those with extramedullary plasmacytoma?”

Bristol Myers Squibb’s GPRC5D-targeted chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy, BMS-986393, had a manageable safety profile and has shown efficacy in patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM), according to new data from a phase 1, first in human trial (NCT04674813). The most frequent adverse event was cytopenia and broad efficacy was seen in subgroup analyses, across patients that had high-risk cytogenetics and/or had received prior anti-BCMA therapy (around 50% for both subgroups).

Data from the study were presented at the European Hematology Association (EHA) 2023 Congress, held June 8-11, both virtually and in Frankfurt, Germany, by Susan Bal, MD, assistant professor of medicine at University of Alabama – Birmingham.

CGTLive’s sister site, OncLive, spoke with Bal to learn more about BMS-986393 and the positive efficacy observed across subgroups. She discussed the initial positive trends seen with minimal residual disease negativity but noted that these data are not mature. She also expressed predicted that GPRC5D-directed therapies may fit in earlier in the treatment landscape of RRMM than BCMA-directed therapies due to a positive safety profile or could be efficacious when used in combination.

Click here for more coverage of EHA 2023.

REFERENCE

Bal S, Berdeja J, Htut M, et al. BMS-986393 (CC-95266), A G protein–coupled receptor class C GROUP 5 member D (GPRC5D)–targeted CAR T-cell therapy for relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM): results from a phase 1 study. Presented at: EHA 2023 Congress. Abstract #S193