Dr. Vesole on Developing Off-the-Shelf CAR T-Cell Therapy in Multiple Myeloma

David H. Vesole, MD, PhD, director of the Myeloma Program at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, professor of medicine at Georgetown University, co-director of the Myeloma Division and director of Myeloma Research at John Theurer Cancer Center at Hackensack University Medical Center, discusses the importance of developing off-the-shelf CAR T-cell therapy ​products in multiple myeloma.

CAR T-cell therapy continues to move forward in development ​in multiple myeloma, Vesole explains. Notably, manycompanies are attempting to manufacture BCMA-targeted ​CAR T-cell products. Though, other targets are under investigation as well.

Currently, CAR T-cell products are manufactured using a patient’s ​T cells​, Vesole says. However, this process could take 2 to 4 weeks ​before the product is ready for infusion.

​As such, autologous CAR T-cell therapy has some limitations. Some patients may not be able to wait ​for the product to be made, whereas others may not generate enough T cells ​to be eligible for CAR T-cell therapy. 

​Ongoing research efforts are focused on developing off-the-shelf​, allogeneic CAR T-cell products, which can be administered shortly after the order is placed. Although research is in early stages, the field is hopeful that allogeneic products could provide an alternative option to autologous products for patients with myeloma, Vesole concludes.