Autolus shines after ASH presentations on cell therapy candidates for blood cancer

 

• Thinly traded Autolus Therapeutics (AUTL +11.6%) has announced new data from Phase 1/2 study, ALEXANDER, evaluating company's CD19 and CD22 dual targeting CAR T candidate, AUTO3 in relapsed/refractory diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Data were presented at the American Society of Hematology meeting.
• As of October 30 data cut-off date, 49 patients have been treated and were evaluable for safety.
• Objective response rate (ORR) of 65% and a complete response rate of 51% was observed. Of the 29 evaluable patients receiving the recommended Phase 2 dose (a dose of ≥ 150 x 10⁶ cells) and pre-conditioning with Merck's Keytruda (pembrolizumab) at Day -1, ORR was 66% and the CR rate was 55%.
• On the safety front, AUTO3 was well tolerated, with low rates of cytokine release syndrome and neurotoxicity.
• Additionally, the company announced presentation of additional data from Phase 1 ALLCAR study evaluating AUTO1, CD19 CAR T cell therapy in adult patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
• Of the 19 patients evaluable, 16 patients achieved minimum residual disease-negative complete response at one month. Across all treated patients, event free survival at six and 12 months is 69% and 52%, respectively.
• The company said that due to the pandemic, it now expects to enroll patients throughout 2021 with a full data set in 2022.
• https://seekingalpha.com/news/3642231-autolus-shines-after-ash-presentations-on-cell-therapy-candidates-for-blood-cancer