Bristol Myers Squibb announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Breyanzi (lisocabtagene maraleucel; liso-cel), a CD19-directed chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory (R/R) large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL) after two or more lines of systemic therapy, including diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) not otherwise specified (including DLBCL arising from indolent lymphoma), high-grade B-cell lymphoma, primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma, and follicular lymphoma grade 3B. Breyanzi is not indicated for the treatment of patients with primary central nervous system lymphoma.1Breyanzi is a CD19-directed CAR T cell therapy with a defined composition and 4-1BB costimulatory domain. Breyanzi is administered as a defined composition to reduce variability of the CD8 and CD4 component dose. The 4‑1BB signaling enhances the expansion and persistence of Breyanzi. Breyanzi offers a potentially definitive treatment. A single dose of Breyanzi contains 50 to 110 x 106 CAR-positive viable T cells (consisting of 1:1 CAR-positive viable T cells of the CD8 and CD4 components). Please see the Important Safety Information section below, including Boxed WARNINGS for Breyanzi regarding Cytokine Release Syndrome (CRS) and Neurologic Toxicities (NT).
“Breyanzi, a CAR T cell therapy, will have an important role in clinical practice, offering people living with relapsed or refractory large B-cell lymphoma the chance for sustained response with an individualized treatment experience,” said Samit Hirawat, M.D., chief medical officer, Bristol Myers Squibb. “Today’s FDA approvalreflects our deep commitment to advancing cell therapy research, developing innovative treatments and supporting patients at every step of their treatment journey.”
Bristol Myers Squibb plans to manufacture Breyanzi for each individual patient at its state-of-the-art cellular immunotherapy manufacturing facility in Bothell, Washington. Breyanzi offers a 24-day target turnaround time, and inpatient or outpatient administration options. To help support broad patient access, Bristol Myers Squibb plans to launch Breyanzi across an expansive network of treatment centers. Treatment centers will be Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) certified to support the appropriate use of Breyanzi, which is available only through the Breyanzi REMS program. Healthcare facilities, including hospitals and associated outpatient clinics, must enroll and comply with REMS requirements and be trained on the management of CRS and NT. Bristol Myers Squibb is also supporting the patient and physician treatment experience by providing Cell Therapy 360, a digital service platform, which optimizes access to relevant information, manufacturing updates, patient and caregiver support, and outpatient management resources to support patients. BMS will offer patients disposable wearable technology during the initial post-infusion monitoring period, which will help them track their temperature in real time through a smartphone when away from the treatment center.
“In TRANSCEND NHL 001, Breyanzi produced sustained responses in a significant proportion of patients with relapsed or refractory large B-cell lymphoma. TRANSCEND also demonstrated feasibility of outpatient administration, which is meaningful for patients, physicians and the healthcare system,” said Jeremy Abramson, M.D., M.M.Sc., director of the lymphoma program at Massachusetts General Hospital and principal investigator for TRANSCEND NHL 001. “With this approval, we now have an important new treatment option for patients with relapsed or refractory large B-cell lymphoma who have undergone at least two prior lines of systemic therapy.”
Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is a rapidly growing, aggressive disease and the most common form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), accounting for one out of every three cases diagnosed. Seventy-three percent of patients will not respond to or will relapse following second-line treatment or later. For patients who relapse or do not respond to initial therapies, conventional treatment options that provide sustained responses are limited and median life expectancy is about six months. The goal of treatment in DLBCL is curative intent with definitive therapy. Additional options are needed in R/R DLBCL to deliver sustained responses to these patients.
“People battling relapsed or refractory large B-cell lymphoma continue to face a challenging treatment journey, both physically and emotionally,” said Meghan Gutierrez, chief executive officer, Lymphoma Research Foundation. “Breyanzi is an innovative treatment that offers a new option for patients, and another reason for this community to maintain hope for the future.”
Bristol Myers Squibb offers various programs and resources to address the needs of patients and caregivers, and provide support that allows for access to therapies, including Breyanzi.
Breyanzi has been granted Priority Medicines (PRIME) designation for R/R DLBCL in the European Union and a Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) is currently under review by the European Medicines Agency.
