If there had been any lingering market concerns following the temporary partial clinical hold earlier this year for Arcellx Inc.’s multiple myeloma CAR T-cell therapy, CART-ddBCMA, they were likely put to rest as partner Gilead Sciences Inc.’s Kite unit expanded the scope of the firms’ late 2022 collaboration to include lymphomas. At the same time, Kite exercised an option to negotiate a license for Arcellx’s ARC-Sparx program, ACLX-001, in multiple myeloma.
Among the avalanche of abstracts for the upcoming American Society of Hematology (ASH) annual conference released early on Nov. 2 were data from Arcellx Inc.’s phase I study of CART-ddBCMA in patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma. The results caught investors’ attention as the company’s stock (NASDAQ:ACLX) jumped 18.5% upward to close at $40.77 per share.
An updated trial protocol providing expanded bridging therapies are part of the agreement between the U.S. FDA and Arcellx Inc. that allows the lifting of the partial clinical hold on the company’s pivotal phase II study of CAR T-cell therapy CART-ddBCMA in multiple myeloma (MM).
Following the death of a patient, the U.S. FDA halted Arcellx Inc.’s phase II pivotal trial of its CAR T-cell therapy for relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma (MM), putting Gilead Sciences Inc., which in December made the risky decision to part with $225 million up front for rights to the immunotherapy, in likely turmoil.
Word recently from Nexcella Inc. of progress in its potentially BLA-enabling phase Ib/IIa study, with the BCMA-targeted, autologous CAR T therapy called NXC-201 for relapsed/refractory (r/r) multiple myeloma and r/r amyloid light chain amyloidosis, helped put nearer to center stage the class, which has proven attractive to a handful of developers. Among others in the space are Arcellx Inc. and Gracell Biotechnologies Inc.
Arcellx Inc. signed a deal that could be worth almost $4 billion with Gilead Sciences Inc.’s unit Kite Pharma Inc. to push forward Arcellx's lead late-stage candidate CART-ddBCMA for relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma. The arrangement brings $225 million up front plus an equity investment of $100 million, along with as much as $3.9 billion in milestone payments. Arcellx CEO Rami Elghandour said the firm sorted through a number of suitors interested in the program. Data at the American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting “catalyzed a number of discussions and a broad set of interests. We felt of the possibilities out there, [Kite/Gilead is] the partner of choice in this space.”
DUBLIN – After four years in stealth mode, Arcellx Inc. finally emerged onto open ground, with an $85.7 million series B round under its belt and plans to take its two lead "intelligent" cell therapy programs into clinical development in multiple myeloma and acute myeloid leukemia.
