NJ-LEGEND-BIOTECH
26.5.2022 09:12:10 CEST | Business Wire | Press release
Legend Biotech Corporation (NASDAQ: LEGN) (Legend Biotech), a global biotechnology company developing, manufacturing and commercializing novel therapies to treat life-threatening diseases, today announced that the European Commission (EC) has granted conditional marketing authorization of CARVYKTI® (ciltacabtagene autoleucel; cilta-cel) for the treatment of adults with relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) who have received at least three prior therapies, including a proteasome inhibitor (PI), an immunomodulatory agent (IMiD) and an anti-CD38 antibody, and have demonstrated disease progression on the last therapy. Legend Biotech entered into an exclusive worldwide license and collaboration agreement with Janssen Biotech, Inc. (Janssen) to develop and commercialize cilta-cel in December 2017.
CARVYKTI® is a chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy featuring two B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA)-targeting single domain antibodies.1 CAR-T therapy is specifically developed for each individual patient, and it is administered as a single infusion.1,2
“The approval of CARVYKTI® by the European Commission marks Legend’s first approval in the region and is a significant milestone as we advance our commitment to bring innovative cell therapies to patients with the highest unmet need,” said Ying Huang, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Legend Biotech. “The CARTITUDE-1 data showed that CARVYKTI® provides the potential for long, treatment-free intervals for heavily pre-treated patients, and is a valuable treatment option for patients with multiple myeloma. We look forward to working with Janssen to bring this new option to patients across Europe.”
This approval was supported by the pivotal CARTITUDE-1 study, including patients who had received a median of six prior treatment regimens (range, 3-18), and had previously received an IMiD, PI and anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody.3 Findings showed that at a median duration of 18 months follow-up (range, 1.5-30.5), a one-time treatment with cilta-cel resulted in deep and durable responses, with 98 percent (95 percent confidence interval [CI], 92.7-99.7) of patients with RRMM responding to therapy (98 percent overall response rate [ORR] (N=97)).3,4 Notably, 80 percent of the patients achieved stringent complete response (sCR), a measure in which a physician is unable to observe any signs or symptoms of disease via imaging or other tests after treatment.3
The safety of cilta-cel was evaluated in 179 adult patients across two open-label clinical trials (MMY2001 and MMY2003 ). The most common adverse reactions (≥20 percent) were neutropenia (91 percent), cytokine release syndrome (CRS) (88 percent), pyrexia (88 percent), thrombocytopenia (73 percent), anemia (72 percent), leukopenia (54 percent), lymphopenia (45 percent), musculoskeletal pain (43 percent), hypotension (41 percent), fatigue (40 percent), transaminase elevation (37 percent), upper respiratory tract infection (32 percent), diarrhea (28 percent), hypocalcemia (27 percent), hypophosphatemia (26 percent), nausea (26 percent), headache (25 percent), cough (25 percent), tachycardia (23 percent), chills (23 percent), encephalopathy (22 percent), decreased appetite (22 percent), oedema (22 percent), and hypokalemia (20 percent).4
“There continues to be an unmet need for patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma who have exhausted existing treatment options. Data from the CARTITUDE-1 trial have shown that cilta-cel provides deep and durable responses for heavily pre-treated patients. Today’s approval by the European Commission reinforces the potential of this new treatment option for multiple myeloma patients in Europe,” said Hermann Einsele, Full Professor of Internal Medicine and Director of the Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik II of the Julius Maximilian University, Würzburg, Germany.*
As a highly personalized medicine, where a patient’s own T-cells are reprogrammed to target and kill cancer cells, administration of CAR-T therapy requires extensive training, preparation, and certification to ensure the highest quality product and experience for patients.2 Through a phased approach, Legend Biotech’s strategic partner, Janssen, will work diligently to activate a limited network of certified treatment centers and will aim to increase availability of cilta-cel across Europe, in an effort to provide oncologists and patients with treatment in a reliable manner.
This EC Marketing Authorization follows the approval of CARVYKTI® by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on February 28, 2022.
*Hermann Einsele, M.D., FRCP has not been paid for contributing to this press release.
About CARVYKTI® (ciltacabtagene autoleucel; cilta-cel)
CARVYKTI® is a BCMA-directed, genetically modified autologous T-cell immunotherapy, which involves reprogramming a patient’s own T-cells with a transgene encoding a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) that identifies and eliminates cells that express BCMA.4 BCMA is primarily expressed on the surface of malignant multiple myeloma B-lineage cells, as well as late-stage B-cells and plasma cells.4 The CARVYKTI® CAR protein features two BCMA-targeting single domain antibodies designed to confer high avidity against human BCMA.4 Upon binding to BCMA-expressing cells, the CAR promotes T-cell activation, expansion, and elimination of target cells.4
In December 2017, Legend Biotech Corporation entered into an exclusive worldwide license and collaboration agreement with Janssen Biotech, Inc. (Janssen) to develop and commercialize cilta-cel.5
In April 2021, Legend announced the submission of a Marketing Authorisation Application to the European Medicines Agency seeking approval of cilta-cel for the treatment of patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma. In addition to U.S. Breakthrough Therapy Designation granted in December 2019, cilta-cel also received Breakthrough Therapy Designation in China in August 2020. In February 2019, cilta-cel received Orphan Drug Designation from the U.S. FDA from the European Commission in February 2020, and from the Pharmaceuticals and Medicinal Devices Agency (PMDA) in Japan in June 2020. In May 2022, the Committee for Orphan Medicinal Products recommended by consensus that the orphan designation for cilta-cel be maintained, on the basis of clinical data demonstrating improved and sustained complete response rates following treatment.6 Cilta-cel was approved the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in February 2022.5
About CARTITUDE-1
CARTITUDE-1 (NCT03548207 )7 is an ongoing Phase 1b/2, open-label, single arm, multi-center trial evaluating cilta-cel for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma, who previously received at least three prior lines of therapy including a proteasome inhibitor (PI), an immunomodulatory agent (IMiD) and an anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody. Of the 97 patients enrolled in the trial, 99 percent were refractory to the last line of treatment and 88 percent were triple-class refractory, meaning their cancer did not respond, or no longer responds, to an IMiD, a PI and an anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody.4
About Multiple Myeloma
Multiple myeloma is an incurable blood cancer that starts in the bone marrow and is characterized by an excessive proliferation of plasma cells.8 In Europe, it is estimated that more than 50,900 people were diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2020, and approximately 32,500 patients died.9 While some patients with multiple myeloma have no symptoms at all, most patients are diagnosed due to symptoms that can include bone problems, low blood counts, calcium elevation, kidney problems or infections.10 Although treatment may result in remission, unfortunately, patients will most likely relapse.11 Patients who relapse after treatment with standard therapies, including protease inhibitors, immunomodulatory agents, and an anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody, have poor prognoses and few treatment options available.12,13
About Legend Biotech
Legend Biotech is a global biotechnology company dedicated to treating, and one day curing, life-threatening diseases. Headquartered in Somerset, New Jersey, we are developing advanced cell therapies across a diverse array of technology platforms, including autologous and allogenic chimeric antigen receptor T-cell, T-cell receptor (TCR-T), and natural killer (NK) cell-based immunotherapy. From our three R&D sites around the world, we apply these innovative technologies to pursue the discovery of safe, efficacious and cutting-edge therapeutics for patients worldwide.
Learn more at www.legendbiotech.com and follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn .
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
Statements in this press release about future expectations, plans and prospects, as well as any other statements regarding matters that are not historical facts, constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements relating to Legend Biotech’s strategies and objectives; statements relating to CARVYKTI™, including Legend Biotech’s expectations for CARVYKTI™, such as Legend Biotech’s manufacturing and commercialization expectations for CARVYKTI™ and the potential effect of treatment with CARVYKTI™; statements about submissions for cilta-cel to, and the progress of such submissions with, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the European Medicines Agency (EMA), the Chinese Center for Drug Evaluation of National Medical Products Administration (CDE) and other regulatory authorities; the anticipated timing of, and ability to progress, clinical trials, including patient enrollment; the submission of Investigational New Drug (IND) applications to, and maintenance of such applications with, regulatory authorities; the ability to generate, analyze and present data from clinical trials; and the potential benefits of Legend Biotech’s product candidates. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “target,” “will,” “would” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors. Legend Biotech’s expectations could be affected by, among other things, uncertainties involved in the development of new pharmaceutical products; unexpected clinical trial results, including as a result of additional analysis of existing clinical data or unexpected new clinical data; unexpected regulatory actions or delays, including requests for additional safety and/or efficacy data or analysis of data, or government regulation generally; unexpected delays as a result of actions undertaken, or failures to act, by our third party partners; uncertainties arising from challenges to Legend Biotech’s patent or other proprietary intellectual property protection, including the uncertainties involved in the U.S. litigation process; competition in general; government, industry, and general public pricing and other political pressures; the duration and severity of the COVID-19 pandemic and governmental and regulatory measures implemented in response to the evolving situation; as well as the other factors discussed in the “Risk Factors” section of the Legend Biotech’s Annual Report filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 31, 2022. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in this press release as anticipated, believed, estimated or expected. Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date of this press release. Legend Biotech specifically disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
| References |
| _______________________________________ |
1 Martin, T. Updated Results From CARTITUDE-1: Phase 1b/2 Study of Ciltacabtagene Autoleucel, a B-cell Maturation Antigen–Directed Chimeric Antigen Receptor T Cell Therapy, in Patients with Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma. Abstract #549 [Oral]. Presented at the 2021 American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting & Exposition Annual Meeting. |
2 NHS. CAR-T Therapy. https://www.england.nhs.uk/cancer/cdf/car-t-therapy/ . Accessed May 2022. |
3 Usmani, S. Ciltacabtagene autoleucel, a B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA)-directed chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy, in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (R/R MM): Updated results from CARTITUDE-1. Abstract #8005 [Oral]. Presented at the 2021 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting. |
4 European Medicines Agency. CARVYKTI (Ciltacabtagene Autoleucel) Summary of Product Characteristics. May 2022. |
5 CARVYKTI™ (ciltacabtagene autoleucel), BCMA-Directed CAR-T Therapy, Receives U.S. FDA Approval for the Treatment of Adult Patients with Relapsed or Refractory Multiple Myeloma. Available at: https://legendbiotech.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/CARVYKTI%E2%84%A2-ciltacabtagene-autoleucel-BCMA-Directed-CAR-T-Therapy-Receives-U.S.-FDA-Approval-2.pdf . Accessed May 2022. |
6 European Commission. Community Register of Orphan Medicinal Products. Available at: https://ec.europa.eu/health/documents/community-register/html/o2252.htm . Accessed May 2022. |
7 ClinicalTrials.gov. A Study of JNJ-68284528, a Chimeric Antigen Receptor T Cell (CAR-T) Therapy Directed Against B-Cell Maturation Antigen (BCMA) in Participants with Relapsed or Refractory Multiple Myeloma (CARTITUDE-1). Available at: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03548207 . Accessed May 2022. |
8 American Society of Clinical Oncology. Multiple myeloma: introduction. Available at: https://www.cancer.net/cancer-types/multiple-myeloma/introduction . Accessed May 2022. |
9 GLOBOCAN 2020. Cancer Today Population Factsheets: Europe Region. Available at: https://gco.iarc.fr/today/data/factsheets/populations/908-europe-fact-sheets.pdf . Accessed May 2022. |
10 American Cancer Society. Multiple myeloma: early detection, diagnosis and staging. Available at: https://www.cancer.org/content/dam/CRC/PDF/Public/8740.00.pdf . Accessed May 2022. |
11 Rajkumar SV. Multiple myeloma: 2020 update on diagnosis, risk-stratification and management. Am J Hematol. 2020;95(5),548-567. doi:10.1002/ajh.25791. |
12 Kumar SK, Dimopoulos MA, Kastritis E, et al. Natural history of relapsed myeloma, refractory to immunomodulatory drugs and proteasome inhibitors: a multicenter IMWG study. Leukemia. 2017;31(11):2443- 2448. |
13 Gandhi UH, Cornell RF, Lakshman A, et al. Outcomes of patients with multiple myeloma refractory to CD38- targeted monoclonal antibody therapy. Leukemia. 2019;33(9):2266-2275. |
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220525005944/en/
About Business Wire
Subscribe to releases from Business Wire
Subscribe to all the latest releases from Business Wire by registering your e-mail address below. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Latest releases from Business Wire
Hyper Brings its Latest Range of Power, Connectivity and MacBook Accessories to IFA 20264.9.2026 07:00:00 CEST | Press release
The latest additions to Hyper's portfolio make everyday mobile setups more personal, portable and productive across work, creating and travel Messe Berlin – IFA 2026 (Hall 5.2, Stand 179) – Hyper®, an innovator of mobile accessories for Apple users, creators and mobile professionals, will showcase its latest lineup at IFA 2026, designed to make everyday mobile setups more personal, portable and productive across work, creating and travel. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260903870923/en/ Discover Hyper's latest MacBook accessories, power and connectivity solutions debuting at IFA 2026 Building on essential MacBook Neo accessories, the range expands across portable charging, privacy, workspace connectivity and carry solutions, led by HyperJuice Flex, Hyper’s colourful and accessible collection designed to make everyday power more portable and personal. “At IFA, we’re introducing an everyday ecosystem built aroun
Mainstay Medical Announces Two-Year Outcomes from RESTORE Clinical Trial of ReActiv8®3.9.2026 22:30:00 CEST | Press release
ReActiv8® Restorative Neurostimulation™ treatment group showed sustained improvements in measures of disability, pain and quality of life from the one-year to the two-year timepoints.83% of control group patients elected to cross over and receive ReActiv8 therapy after the one-year assessment.After one year of ReActiv8 therapy, the outcomes in the crossover group were indistinguishable from the treatment group at the same time point, confirming the effect is reproducible, robust, and not cohort specific. Mainstay Medical Holdings plc today announced the publication of the two-year assessment results from the RESTORE randomized clinical trial of ReActiv8 for the treatment of intractable chronic low back pain. The data show continued improvements in back pain-related disability, pain and quality of life in the ReActiv8 treatment group, and improvements after one year of ReActiv8 therapy in the crossover group that were indistinguishable from the improvements shown by the treatment group
Compass Pathways Announces New Employee Inducement Grants Under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4)3.9.2026 22:30:00 CEST | Press release
Compass Pathways plc (Nasdaq: CMPS), a biotechnology company dedicated to unlocking urgently needed new treatment options in mental health care, announced today that Compass granted equity awards under the Compass Pathways plc 2026 Inducement Plan to thirty-one newly hired non-executive employees. The equity awards were granted on September 1, 2026 and consisted of options to purchase an aggregate of 280,600 shares and restricted share units or, in the case of employees in the United Kingdom nominal cost options, covering an aggregate of 133,500 shares. The options have an exercise price per share equal to $13.24, the closing price of the Company’s American Depositary Shares on the Nasdaq Global Select Market on the grant date, and will vest over a four-year period with 25% vesting on the first anniversary of the date of the grant and the remaining 75% vesting in equal monthly installments over the three-year period thereafter, subject to each employee’s continued employment. The restr
Lenovo Advances Hybrid AI Across New Personal and Enterprise Technology3.9.2026 18:00:00 CEST | Press release
Lenovo announces expanded Lenovo and Motorola Qira experiences and availability, new Yoga, Idea, Think, and Motorola devices, and concepts that explore the next era of more personal, connected technology. Today at Lenovo™ Innovation World during IFA 2026, Lenovo unveiled a new portfolio of personal and enterprise technology, showing how its Hybrid AI strategy is moving from vision to practical experiences across devices, infrastructure, services, and the everyday moments that connect them. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260903555953/en/ Lenovo Innovation World at IFA 2026 The announcements bring together Lenovo’s “one personal AI, multiple devices” approach with enterprise technology that helps organizations turn data into insights and value. They span personal AI across PCs, smartphones, tablets, and wearables; creator and consumer devices that adapt to different ways of working and expressing ideas; and bus
Bahrain Signs its Participation Contract for Expo 2030 Riyadh3.9.2026 17:45:00 CEST | Press release
The Kingdom of Bahrain has signed its Participation Contract for Expo 2030 Riyadh, marking a new phase in preparations for its participation in the World Expo. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260903144412/en/ His Excellency Sheikh Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, President of the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities, and Talal Al-Marri, Chief Executive Officer of Expo 2030 Riyadh, at the ceremony. The agreement provides the formal framework for Bahrain’s participation in Expo 2030 Riyadh, enabling preparations to advance across the key organizational and operational aspects of its presence throughout the six-month event, including the development of its pavilion, programmes and visitor experiences. The Participation Contract was signed in Bahrain by Talal Al-Marri, Chief Executive Officer of Expo 2030 Riyadh, on behalf of Expo 2030 Riyadh, and His Excellency Sheikh Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, President
In our pressroom you can read all our latest releases, find our press contacts, images, documents and other relevant information about us.
Visit our pressroom
