Dr. Berdeja on Updated CARTITUDE-1 Results With JNJ-4258 in Multiple Myeloma

Jesus G. Berdeja, MD, the director of Multiple Myeloma Research at Sarah Cannon Research Institute, discusses updated safety results from the ongoing phase 1b/2 CARTITUDE-1 trial (NCT03548207) with the CAR T-cell therapy JNJ-4528 in multiple myeloma.

In the study, neurotoxicity was rare; only 1 patient reported an event that was grade 3 or higher in severity, Berdeja says. Significant cytopenias were also observed with JNJ-4528, including neutropenia and thrombocytopenia, although most events resolved within 60 days, says Berdeja. All-grade upper respiratory tract infections were reported in 31% of the patients, however, none of these infections were unexpected, adds Berdeja.

Additionally, results showed a 100% overall response rate with the product, which included a stringent complete response rate of 86% and very good partial response rate of 97% at a median follow-up of 11.5 months, explains Berdeja.

Finally, 16 patients with a CR achieved minimal residual disease (MRD)–negative disease status. Of those patients, 81% were MRD negative at 10-5 or better and 69% were MRD negative at 10-6. The estimated progression-free survival rate at 9 months was 86%, concludes Berdeja.