Development of a Phase 1 Study Evaluating the Activity of Modular CAR T for Multiple Myeloma (MCARTY) Targeting BCMA and CD19 for Improved Persistence

BCMA directed CAR T cell therapy for multiple myeloma (MM) shows promise, but very long-term survival may be limited. Notably, BCMA CAR T persistence in MM is shorter than that seen in with CD19 CAR T cells in B cell malignancies where long-term CD19 CAR T persistence is associated with durable responses. Shorter BCMA CAR T persistence may be explained by the lower surface density of BCMA on tumour compared with that of CD19. Alternatively, CD19 CAR T persistence may be driven by recognition of continuous emergence of newly differentiated B cells.