BCMA CAR T Therapy May Achieve An Autoimmune Breakthrough

It is well to be noted that the positive results from the first global study for chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-antologous T cell- BCMA CAR T injection Equecabtagene Autoleucel in immune-mediated necrotising myopathy- IMNM, go on to suggest that cell therapy could go on to provide a new therapeutic choice for antibody-mediated autoimmune disorders.

IMNM happens to be an autoimmune-mediated skeletal muscle disorder that belongs to an idiopathic inflammatory disease.

In the initial clinical study of BCMA CAR T therapy, investigators went on to evaluate the safety as well as efficacy of Equecabtagene Autoleucel infusion in relapsed as well as refractory antibody-mediated idiopathic inflammatory diseases within the nervous system.

The treatment was evaluated in one patient having a seven-year history of anti-signal recognition particle- SRP antibody-positive refractory IMNM.

Before this treatment, the patient had been paralyzed, bed-bound, and unable to lift arms above the head, as explained by IASO Bio.

Repeated relapses had been experienced, as well as enduring injuries, even after receiving numerous prior therapies such as steroids, interleukin-6 (IL-6) receptor antagonists, CD20 monoclonal antibodies, and mesenchymal stem cell infusion.

Designed so as to target the fully human B cell maturation antigen (BCMA), the CAR T injection, which is assessed in the study, went on to demonstrate durable pathogenic antibody clearance as well as potentially persistent clinical efficacy, shared IASO Bio.

Equecabtagene Autoleucel Injection: The First Study Results

While the patient went on to develop the grade 1 cytokine release syndrome- CRS, no immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome- ICANS got observed with the BCMA CAR T treatment, confirmed IASO Bio. Just transient hemocytopenia was observed. Apparently, there were no fresh safety risks found as compared to the safety profile in the studies of numerous myeloma indications.

CAR T cell expansion in the patient post the Equecabtagene Autoleucel infusion happened to be good. Moreover, the patient’s serum SRP antibody level dipped rapidly and was at a very low level. This was a prominent improvement, having been high before the treatment.

Long-term follow-up information on the CAR T-cell therapy injection

As per the IASO Bio:

In the 18-month follow-up, the study went on to find out that the patient’s clinical symptoms continued to get better.

Three months post-infusion of Equecabtagene Autoleucel, the patient’s strength when it came to extremities enhanced significantly. For instance, the patient could lift his arms with little effort and was able to walk again.

According to Professor Wang Wei, principal investigator, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, this is the first time across the world to apply BCMA CAR T-cell therapy in order to treat immune-mediated necrotising myopathy- IMNM which happens to be another significant breakthrough in the autoimmune diseases field post the successful treatment of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders- NMOSD through BCMA CAR T.