Updated KarMMA Data of Ide-Cel in Multiple Myeloma: Larry D. Anderson Jr, MD, PhD

This content is originally from our sister site, OncLive.

OncLive spoke with Larry Anderson, MD, PhD, associate professor, department of internal medicine, division of hematology/oncology, Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, UT Southwestern Medical Center, about data from the phase 2 KarMMa trial (NCT03361748).

He discussed outcomes with idecabtagene vicleucel (ide-cel, Abecma) in patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma seen in the trial. Updated results from the trial were presented at the 2021 International Myeloma Workshop and showed that ide-cel yielded a median overall survival (OS) of 24.8 months in heavily pretreated patients with triple-class exposed relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma.

Overall survival was similar for those who had received 3 or more prior lines of therapy, Anderson explains. Additionally, the median OS was more than 20 months for patients with extramedullary and triple-class refractory disease.

The CAR T-cell therapy elicited an overall response rate (ORR) of 73% and resulted in a median progression-free survival (PFS) of 8.6 months, Anderson explains. Notably, in the subset of patients who received the highest dose of CAR T cells, the ORR was even higher, at 81%, with a complete response (CR)rate of 39%. In this subset, the median PFS was 12.2 months, Anderson says.

Notably, responses to ide-cel were durable, with a median duration of response of 10.9 months among all treated patients. The durability increased with depth of response, to 21.5 months of remission for those who achieved a CR and 41% of these patients were still in remission 2 years later, Anderson concludes.