Bristol Myers Squibb Company and bluebird bio are bringing to market the first chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy targeting B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA) and the first CAR-T therapy for multiple myeloma. BMS chief commercialization officer Chris Boerner told Scrip that the initial focus of the Abecma (idecabtagene vicleucel, ide-cel) launch is working to certify the first treatment centers to administer the one-time treatment following US Food and Drug Administration approval on 26 March.
BMS/Bluebird Ready Abecma, First BCMA-Targeting CAR-T, For Initial Patients
REMS-Required Training And Certification Under Way
Idecabtagene vicleucel for fifth-line multiple myeloma lags GSK’s BCMA-targeting ADC Blenrep, but it is months ahead of J&J/Legend’s CAR-T. Abecma is BMS’s second CAR-T approval this year.
More from New Products
More from Scrip
• By
By allowing it to enter the brain more easily, trontinemab’s brain shuttle brings more patients to ‘amyloid zero’ levels faster, and with fewer brain swelling side effects.
• By
Compass' bispecific antibody tovecimig hits primary efficacy endpoint in Phase II/III top-line data in advanced biliary tract cancer, and may have class side-effect advantages. But additional survival data may be needed to support US approval.
• By
AstraZeneca remains committed to investing in R&D and alliances in China, where Susan Galbraith, the UK major’s head of oncology R&D, sees innovation eventually reaching parity with the US and Europe.