BMS + bluebird bio file BLA at FDA for idecabtagene vicleucel to treat multiple myeloma patients who have received at least three prior therapies.

Bristol Myers Squibb and bluebird bio, Inc. announced the submission of their Biologics License Application (BLA) to the FDA for idecabtagene vicleucel (ide-cel; bb2121), the companies’ lead investigational B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA)-directed chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell immunotherapy, for the treatment of adult patients with multiple myeloma who have received at least three prior therapies, including an immunomodulatory agent, a proteasome inhibitor and an anti-CD38 antibody. The submission is based on results from the pivotal Phase II KarMMa study. The KarMMa study evaluated the efficacy and safety of ide-cel in heavily pre-treated patients with relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma. Topline data from KarMMa, reported in December 2019, indicated the study met its primary endpoint of overall response rate, and the key secondary endpoint of complete response rate in this patient population treated with ide-cel. The safety results were consistent with those observed in the supportive Phase 1 CRB-401 study, which evaluated the preliminary safety and efficacy of ide-cel. Comprehensive results of the KarMMa study will be presented at a future medical meeting.