AstraZeneca's In Vivo CAR-T ESO-T01 Shows Promise in Multiple Myeloma with Remissions but One Death in China Trial
A phase 1 trial in China of EsoBiotec’s (acquired by AstraZeneca) in vivo BCMA CAR-T ESO-T01 enrolled 5 heavily pretreated patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma.12
Four of five patients achieved objective responses, including three stringent complete remissions by day 60, demonstrating preliminary antimyeloma activity.1
All patients experienced grade 3 or higher adverse events; cytokine release syndrome occurred in four patients (grade 3 in three), and one patient had grade 1 ICANS.1
One patient died 19 days post-treatment from spinal cord compression due to an extramedullary lesion; authors noted the need for anatomical risk stratification in patients with preexisting extramedullary disease.1
AstraZeneca stated the trial predated their acquisition of EsoBiotec, emphasized feasibility without lymphodepletion, and views the data as validating the off-the-shelf in vivo approach despite the tragedy.1
Sources:
1. https://www.fiercebiotech.com/biotech/astrazenecas-vivo-car-t-bet-eradicates-cancer-3-5-patients-death-mars-dataset