Kite and Kiniksa Pharmaceuticals Announce Clinical Collaboration Evaluating Investigational Combination of Yescarta® and Mavrilimumab in Relapsed or Refractory Large B-Cell Lymphoma

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[{"type":"text","content":"Phase 2 study will Examine the Effect of Mavrilimumab on the Clinical Profile of Yescarta\nSANTA MONICA, Calif. and HAMILTON, Bermuda, Dec. 11, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kite, a Gilead Company (Nasdaq: GILD), and Kiniksa Pharmaceuticals, Ltd. (Nasdaq: KNSA) (“Kiniksa”) announced today that the companies have entered into a clinical collaboration to conduct a Phase 2, multicenter study of mavrilimumab, an investigational fully human monoclonal antibody that targets granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor receptor alpha (GM-CSFRα), in combination with Yescarta® (axicabtagene ciloleucel) in patients with relapsed or refractory large B-cell lymphoma. The objective of the study is to determine the effect of mavrilimumab on the safety of Yescarta. Kite will be the sponsor of this study and will be responsible for its conduct.\n “We were excited to present data from several abstracts at the recent ASH meeting that build upon our understanding of the efficacy and safety profile of Yescarta and we are committed to the exploration of new approaches and treatment combinations that further optimize outcomes for patients,” said Christi Shaw, Chief Executive Officer of Kite. “We look forward to working with Kiniksa to learn more about the potential impact of GM-CSFRα inhibition with mavrilimumab.” “The clinical collaboration with Kite furthers Kiniksa’s goal to develop life-changing medicines for patients with significant unmet medical need,” said Sanj K. Patel, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Kiniksa. “We believe the potential for GM-CSFRα inhibition to advance the clinical profile for CAR T cell therapy speaks to the potential broad utility of mavrilimumab.” Treatment related induction of GM-CSF has been identified through clinical, translational and preclinical studies as a potential key signal associated with side effects of chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR T) cell therapy. Preclinical evidence shows the potential for interruption of GM-CSF signaling to disrupt CAR T cell mediated inflammation without disrupting anti-tumor efficacy. Yescarta was the first CAR T cell therapy to be approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory large B-cell lymphoma after two or more lines of systemic therapy, including diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL)...

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