2023 ASCO and EHA: Bispecifics, CAR T, and More!

In June 2023, a large number of myeloma research abstracts were presented by pre-eminent experts at the annual congresses of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and the European Hematology Association (EHA). Great interest was focused on the use of CAR T-cell therapy earlier in the disease setting. Data from the CARTITUDE-4 clinical trial were presented during both ASCO and EHA. This study compares Carvykti® (ciltacabtagene autoleucel or cilta-cel) vs. standard of care (SOC) therapies in early relapse.

Results with Carvykti showed a 74% reduction in the risk of progression. The rate of complete response (CR) and stringent complete response (sCR) was 73.1% with Carvykti vs. 21.8% with SOC. At current follow-up, the SOC median progression-free survival (PFS) is 11.8 months and has not yet been reached for Carvykti. This is similar to the results of the KarMMa-3 clinical trial comparing Abecma® (idecabtagene vicleucel or idecel) vs. SOC, demonstrating substantial PFS benefit for the Abecma approach.

Emerging data with bispecific antibodies were presented at both ASCO and EHA. Exciting first results were presented from the RedirecTT-1 clinical trial evaluating the impact of Tecvayli® (teclistamab) and talquetamab bispecific antibodies being given simultaneously to target both BCMA and GPRC5D. In the dose-finding phase Ib, 33% of study participants had high-risk cytogenetics and 32% had extramedullary disease (EMD).

At the expansion maximum-tolerated dose (MTD) level, the impressive overall response rate (ORR) was 96.3%, with 40.7% of patients achieving CR or sCR. An unexpected finding was the high response rate of 85.7% in patients with EMD, with 28.6% achieving CR or sCR, and the disappearance of multiple soft tissue lesions throughout the body. The “double-targeting” approach is one of the new ways forward that can be applied to both bispecifics and CAR T-cell treatment approaches.

“The IMWG Conference Series: Making Sense of Treatment” video captures the lively discussion of myeloma research from 2023 ASCO and EHA, as well as the highlights from the 2023 IMWG Summit. Moderated by Dr. Brian G.M. Durie, with Drs. María-Victoria Mateos and Thomas Martin serving as panelists, you don’t want to miss a replay of this informative event recorded on June 15, 2023. Watch it and be on the forefront of the latest in myeloma! MT