#ASH17: Novartis’ 6-month Kymriah data in DLBCL sets up a head-to-head fight with Gilead
Novartis $NVS has the kind of evidence of durability for its CAR-T drug Kymriah at 6 months it needs to win a quick shot at competing with Gilead on diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) cases.
Just a day after completing their filing with the FDA, Novartis reported Wednesday that among 81 patients at month 3, the complete response rate hit 32% with the partial response rate coming in at 6%. Their abstract on Kymriah (CTL019) for ASH also shows that among 46 patients evaluable at 6 months, the CR rate was 30% — with 95% remaining consistently free of any sign of their cancer — and the PR rate was 7%. Researchers said that response rates were consistent across subgroups (including those with double-hit lymphoma). Median duration of response was not reached and the 6-month probability of being relapse free was 73.5% — maintaining the kind of efficacy for this cancer that has made CAR-T a new factor in combating blood cancers.
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