Clinical Trial: KITE CAR T Cell Therapy for Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma Opens Phase I Study

KITE Pharma, Inc. is opening a Phase I clinical trial testing its CAR T cell therapy called KITE-585 for safety and effect on multiple myeloma. The therapy is a fully human anti-BCMA CAR T therapy. Data was presented in 2016 from their pre-clinical studies that showed potent activity in the lab and in mice against myeloma cell lines. KITE-585 contains a proprietary linker with the CD28 co-stimulatory domain. This means that it has multiple activation and proliferation of T-cells in the presence of myeloma cell lines and no evidence of signaling in the absence of BCMA cells.  

"These promising preclinical data presented at AACR suggest the potential of KITE-585 to offer a one-time treatment to address the high unmet need in multiple myeloma, an incurable blood cancer," said David Chang, M.D., Ph.D., Executive Vice President, Research and Development, and Chief Medical Officer.

Participants with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma can participate if all eligibility criteria are met. Tests required to determine eligibility include disease assessments, a physical exam, ECG and echocardiogram of the heart, brain MRI, and blood draws. Eligible participants have white blood cells collected by apheresis. These cells are genetically modified to make the experimental treatment KITE-585. Participants receive chemotherapy prior to the KITE-585 infusion. After the KITE-585 infusion, participants will be followed for side effects and effect of KITE-585 on their myeloma. Study procedures may be performed while hospitalized and/or in the outpatient setting.

The study is recruiting 64 patients and is open at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, the Mayo Clinic in Rochester and Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in Nashville. To learn more about this study, click here: KITE CAR T Cell Phase I Study