Exploring CAR T-cell Therapy for Rheumatic/Autoimmune Diseases With Georg Schett, MD

A pair of studies looking at using CD19-targeted chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapies for treating a variety of refractory autoimmune and rheumatic diseases have demonstrated safety with some preliminary efficacy in early data.^1,2

Data from the CASTLE basket study and a phase 1 study of CC-97540 (Bristol Myers Squibb) were presented by Georg Schett, MD, Vice President Research and Chair of Internal Medicine, University of Erlangen – Nuremberg at the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) Convergence 2024, held November 14-19 in Washington, DC.

HCPLive spoke to Schett while at the meeting about the findings seen in both studies and how they add to the nascent and growing literature of CAR T-cell therapy use in the rheumatological field, namely the diseases included in the studies – systemic lupus erythematosus, systemic sclerosis, and myositis, among others. He also pointed out advantages of developing faster manufacturing processes, such as the process used to manufacture CC-97540, which reduced manufacturing time to 5 days.

“The relapse rate is very low, and there have been occasional relapses reported in the field by other studies, but also with low dose CAR T-cell therapy, because that was the starting dose. So, this has to be interpreted in the right way, and I would say that relapses occur, of course, nothing is 100% but so far, it looks that most of the people enjoy a drug free remission for a long time,” Schett said, commenting on his experience investigating CAR T-cell therapies at University of Erlangen.

REFERENCES

1. Schett G, Littlejohn E, Kramer N, et al. A Phase 1, Multicenter, Open-Label Study to Establish the Preliminary Tolerability, Efficacy, Pharmacokinetics, and Pharmacodynamics of CC-97540 (BMS-986353), a CD19-directed CAR T Cell Therapy Manufactured Using a Next-generation Process, for Severe, Refractory Autoimmune Diseases. Presented at: ACR Convergence 2024; November 14-19; Washington, DC. Abstract 1753

2. Schett G, Müller F, Hagen M, et al. Safety and Preliminary Efficacy of CD19 CAR-T Cell Treatment in Rheumatic Disease – Data from the First Part of the Phase I/II CASTLE Basket Study. Presented at: ACR Convergence 2024; November 14-19; Washington, DC. Abstract 1750