How it is administered

Idecabtagene vicleucel is given as a one-time intravenous (IV) infusion. The treatment is personalized, using your own T cells, which are collected from your blood, genetically modified in a lab, and then infused back into your bloodstream. Before the infusion, you will receive a short course of chemotherapy (cyclophosphamide and fludarabine) to prepare your body for the CAR T cell therapy.

How it works

Idecabtagene vicleucel is a type of CAR T cell therapy designed for blood cancers, specifically multiple myeloma. It works by modifying your own immune cells (T cells) to recognize and attack cancer cells. The T cells are collected from your blood and genetically engineered in a laboratory to express a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) that targets a protein called BCMA, which is found on the surface of myeloma cells.

Once these modified T cells are infused back into your body, they seek out and bind to BCMA on the cancer cells. This binding activates the T cells, causing them to multiply, release cytokines, and destroy the targeted myeloma cells. This process can lead to a rapid reduction in cancer cells, but may also trigger strong immune reactions, which are closely monitored and managed by your healthcare team.

Who Should take it

Idecabtagene vicleucel is indicated for adults with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma who have already received at least two prior lines of therapy, including an immunomodulatory agent, a proteasome inhibitor, and an anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody.

This treatment is considered when the disease has returned or has not responded to standard therapies. It is not used as a first-line treatment, but rather for patients whose myeloma is difficult to control with other available medicines.

Who should not take it

There are no absolute contraindications listed for idecabtagene vicleucel. However, it should not be given to patients with active infections or inflammatory disorders, or those who are pregnant, as the effects on unborn babies are unknown and may be harmful. The safety and effectiveness in patients under 18 years of age have not been established.

Patients with certain organ dysfunctions or those who are unable to tolerate the necessary chemotherapy before infusion may not be suitable candidates. Your healthcare team will carefully evaluate your overall health before recommending this therapy.

Commonly used with

Before receiving idecabtagene vicleucel, patients are given a short course of chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide and fludarabine to help prepare the body for the CAR T cell infusion. During and after treatment, supportive medications such as acetaminophen and antihistamines may be used to reduce infusion reactions.

In case of side effects like cytokine release syndrome or neurologic symptoms, medications such as tocilizumab (an anti-inflammatory) and corticosteroids may be used to manage these reactions.

Commonly tested with

Idecabtagene vicleucel has been studied in combination with standard pre-infusion chemotherapy (cyclophosphamide and fludarabine). During clinical trials, supportive care medications such as tocilizumab and corticosteroids were used to manage side effects like cytokine release syndrome and neurotoxicity.

It is not typically combined with other anti-myeloma therapies at the time of infusion, but patients may have received various other treatments prior to CAR T cell therapy as part of their previous lines of therapy.