Gilead’s (NASDAQ: GILD) subsidiary Kite has announced early results from a Phase II trial of its CAR-T therapy, Yescarta (axicabtagene ciloleucel), for patients with relapsed/refractory (R/R) large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL) who are not eligible for high-dose chemotherapy (HDCT) and autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT). The study achieved a primary endpoint with a 71% complete metabolic response (CMR) rate after three months, a substantial improvement over the historical control rate of 12%.
Significant Response Rates and Survival Outcomes
Kite reported impressive best objective response (OR) and complete response (CR) rates of 91.9% and 82.3%, respectively. Additionally, the median progression-free survival (PFS) was 11.8 months after a 12-month median follow-up, while the median overall survival (OS) has not yet been reached. These results indicate the potential of Yescarta in providing effective treatment options for patients with R/R LBCL.
Safety Profile of Yescarta
The therapy’s safety profile was found to be acceptable, which is crucial for the consideration of CAR-T treatments in clinical settings. The positive safety and efficacy data from this trial further establish Yescarta as a viable option for patients who have exhausted other treatment avenues.-Fineline Info & Tech
