On February 6, 2026 Kite, a Gilead Company (Nasdaq: GILD), reported the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved an update to the Yescarta (axicabtagene ciloleucel) prescribing information removing the previous Limitations of Use in patients with relapsed or refractory (R/R) primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL). The updated label reinforces the robust safety data of Yescarta in eligible patients with R/R PCNSL; Yescarta is the only CAR T-cell therapy approved for R/R large B-cell lymphoma to have this Limitations of Use removed.
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Primary central nervous system lymphoma is a rare and fast‑growing lymphoma that originates in the brain, spinal cord, eye, or cerebrospinal fluid. Prognosis for PCNSL remains poor, with a five‑year survival rate of approximately 30%. More than half of patients see their disease come back after the first treatment, with subsequent survival of approximately two months, highlighting the urgent need for new and better treatment options.
The FDA decision is based on positive results from a Phase 1 investigator-sponsored study conducted by Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, which included patients with R/R PCNSL.
"We are pleased that our study, which highlighted the safety of axi-cel in central nervous system lymphoma, supported the FDA’s decision," said Lakshmi Nayak, MD, Director of the Center for CNS Lymphoma, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Associate Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School. "This update to the axi-cel prescribing information provides clinicians with important evidence for patients who have historically had very limited treatment options."
In the Phase 1 study, neurologic toxicities occurred in 85% (11/13) of patients with R/R PCNSL. Thirty-one percent (4/13) of patients had Grade 3 neurologic toxicities. The Grade 3 or 4 adverse events were hypotension (23%; 3/13), encephalopathy (15%; 2/13), seizure (15%; 2/13), gait disturbance (8%; 1/13), headache (8%; 1/13), hypoxia (8%; 1/13), muscular weakness (8%; 1/13), nausea (8%; 1/13), pyrexia (8%; 1/13), thrombosis (8%; 1/13), and tremor (8%; 1/13).
"We are encouraged by the positive results of the safety study in patients with central nervous system lymphoma, who were previously excluded from the trials supporting Yescarta’s approval," said Gallia Levy, MD, PhD, Senior Vice President and Global Head of Development, Kite. "We appreciate the FDA’s timely review and decision, which expands access to Yescarta for patients with primary central nervous system lymphoma—one of the most aggressive and underserved forms of the disease—and we are deeply grateful to the patients and clinicians who made this progress possible."
About Central Nervous System Lymphoma
Central nervous system lymphoma (CNSL) is an aggressive and rare form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma that has either originated in (primary) or spread (secondary) to the brain, eye, spinal cord, or cerebrospinal fluid. There is an estimated annual incidence of 1,500 cases of PCNSL in the United States; it comprises 3% of all primary brain tumors and 1% of all cases of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Its prognosis has historically been poor, with a five-year survival rate of only 30%. CNSL is most likely to be seen in the elderly and people with a compromised immune system. R/R CNSL is considered an area of unmet clinical need with no standard-of-care treatment options.
About the Study
The Phase 1 safety study enrolled 18 patients (13 PCNSL, 5 SCNSL), of whom the first six patients were observed for treatment-limiting toxicities (TLTs). The primary endpoint was safety, measured by rate of TLTs and ≥ Grade 3 adverse events (AEs). Secondary endpoints included objective response rate, complete response rate, duration of response, progression-free survival and overall survival (OS).
About Yescarta
Please see full Prescribing Information, including BOXED WARNING below and Medication Guide.
YESCARTA is a CD19-directed genetically modified autologous T cell immunotherapy indicated for the treatment of:
Adult patients with large B-cell lymphoma that is refractory to first-line chemoimmunotherapy or that relapses within 12 months of first-line chemoimmunotherapy.
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) not otherwise specified, primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma, high grade B-cell lymphoma, and DLBCL arising from follicular lymphoma.
Adult patients with relapsed or refractory follicular lymphoma (FL) after two or more lines of systemic therapy. This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on response rate. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in confirmatory trial(s).
U.S. IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
BOXED WARNING: CYTOKINE RELEASE SYNDROME, NEUROLOGIC TOXICITIES, and SECONDARY HEMATOLOGICAL MALIGNANCIES
Cytokine Release Syndrome (CRS), including fatal or life-threatening reactions, occurred in patients receiving YESCARTA. Do not administer YESCARTA to patients with active infection or inflammatory disorders. Treat severe or life-threatening CRS with tocilizumab or tocilizumab and corticosteroids.
Neurologic toxicities, including fatal or life-threatening reactions, occurred in patients receiving YESCARTA, including concurrently with CRS or after CRS resolution. Monitor for neurologic toxicities after treatment with YESCARTA. Provide supportive care and/or corticosteroids as needed.
T cell malignancies have occurred following treatment of hematologic malignancies with BCMA- and CD19-directed genetically modified autologous T cell immunotherapies, including YESCARTA.
CYTOKINE RELEASE SYNDROME (CRS)
CRS, including fatal or life-threatening reactions, occurred following treatment with YESCARTA. CRS occurred in 90% (379/422) of patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), including ≥ Grade 3 CRS in 9%. CRS occurred in 93% (256/276) of patients with large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL), including ≥ Grade 3 in 9%. Among patients with LBCL who died after receiving YESCARTA, 4 had ongoing CRS events at the time of death. For patients with LBCL in Study 2, the median time to onset of CRS was 2 days following infusion (range: 1-12 days) and the median duration was 7 days (range: 2-58 days). For patients with LBCL in Study 1, the median time to onset of CRS was 3 days following infusion (range: 1-10 days) and the median duration was 7 days (range: 2-43 days).
CRS occurred in 84% (123/146) of patients with indolent non-Hodgkin lymphoma (iNHL) in Study 3, including ≥ Grade 3 CRS in 8%. Among patients with iNHL who died after receiving YESCARTA, 1 patient had an ongoing CRS event at the time of death. The median time to onset of CRS was 4 days (range: 1-20 days) and median duration was 6 days (range: 1-27 days) for patients with iNHL.
Key manifestations of CRS (≥ 10%) in all patients combined included fever (85%), hypotension (40%), tachycardia (32%), chills (22%), hypoxia (20%), headache (15%), and fatigue (12%). Serious events that may be associated with CRS include, cardiac arrhythmias (including atrial fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia), renal insufficiency, cardiac failure, respiratory failure, cardiac arrest, capillary leak syndrome, multi-organ failure, and hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis/macrophage activation syndrome (HLH/MAS).
The impact of tocilizumab and/or corticosteroids on the incidence and severity of CRS was assessed in 2 subsequent cohorts of LBCL patients in Study 2. Among patients who received tocilizumab and/or corticosteroids for ongoing Grade 1 events, CRS occurred in 93% (38/41), including 2% (1/41) with Grade 3 CRS; no patients experienced a Grade 4 or 5 event. The median time to onset of CRS was 2 days (range: 1-8 days) and the median duration of CRS was 7 days (range: 2-16 days). Prophylactic treatment with corticosteroids was administered to a cohort of 39 patients for 3 days beginning on the day of infusion of YESCARTA. Thirty-one of the 39 patients (79%) developed CRS and were managed with tocilizumab and/or therapeutic doses of corticosteroids with no patients developing ≥ Grade 3 CRS. The median time to onset of CRS was 5 days (range: 1-15 days) and the median duration of CRS was 4 days (range: 1-10 days). Although there is no known mechanistic explanation, consider the risk and benefits of prophylactic corticosteroids in the context of pre-existing comorbidities for the individual patient and the potential for the risk of Grade 4 and prolonged neurologic toxicities.
Confirm that 2 doses of tocilizumab are available prior to infusion of YESCARTA. Monitor patients at least daily for 7 days following infusion for signs and symptoms of CRS. Monitor patients for signs or symptoms of CRS for 2 weeks after infusion. Counsel patients to seek immediate medical attention should signs or symptoms of CRS occur at any time. At the first sign of CRS, institute treatment with supportive care, tocilizumab, or tocilizumab and corticosteroids as indicated.
NEUROLOGIC TOXICITIES
Neurologic toxicities including immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS) that were fatal or life-threatening occurred following treatment with YESCARTA. Neurologic toxicities occurred in 78% (330/422) of patients with NHL (excluding central nervous system lymphoma) receiving YESCARTA, including ≥ Grade 3 in 25% in Study 1, Study 2, and Study 3.
Neurologic toxicities occurred in 87% (94/108) of patients with LBCL in Study 2, including ≥ Grade 3 in 31% and in 74% (124/168) of patients in Study 1 including ≥ Grade 3 in 25%. The median time to onset was 4 days (range: 1-43 days) and the median duration was 17 days for patients with LBCL in Study 2. The median time to onset for neurologic toxicity was 5 days (range: 1-133 days) and median duration was 15 days in patients with LBCL in Study 1. Neurologic toxicities occurred in 77% (112/146) of patients with iNHL, including ≥ Grade 3 in 21%. The median time to onset was 6 days (range: 1-79 days) and the median duration was 16 days. Ninety-eight percent of all neurologic toxicities in patients with LBCL and 99% of all neurologic toxicities in patients with iNHL occurred within the first 8 weeks of YESCARTA infusion. Neurologic toxicities occurred within the first 7 days of infusion in 87% of affected patients with LBCL and 74% of affected patients with iNHL.
The most common neurologic toxicities (≥ 10%) in all patients combined included encephalopathy (50%), headache (43%), tremor (29%), dizziness (21%), aphasia (17%), delirium (15%), and insomnia (10%). Prolonged encephalopathy lasting up to 173 days was noted. Serious events, including aphasia, leukoencephalopathy, dysarthria, lethargy, and seizures occurred. Fatal and serious cases of cerebral edema and encephalopathy, including late-onset encephalopathy, have occurred.
The impact of tocilizumab and/or corticosteroids on the incidence and severity of neurologic toxicities was assessed in 2 subsequent cohorts of LBCL patients in Study 2. Among patients who received corticosteroids at the onset of Grade 1 toxicities, neurologic toxicities occurred in 78% (32/41) and 20% (8/41) had Grade 3 neurologic toxicities; no patients experienced a Grade 4 or 5 event. The median time to onset of neurologic toxicities was 6 days (range: 1-93 days) with a median duration of 8 days (range: 1-144 days). Prophylactic treatment with corticosteroids was administered to a cohort of 39 patients for 3 days beginning on the day of infusion of YESCARTA. Of those patients, 85% (33/39) developed neurologic toxicities; 8% (3/39) developed Grade 3 and 5% (2/39) developed Grade 4 neurologic toxicities. The median time to onset of neurologic toxicities was 6 days (range: 1-274 days) with a median duration of 12 days (range: 1-107 days). Prophylactic corticosteroids for management of CRS and neurologic toxicities may result in higher grade of neurologic toxicities or prolongation of neurologic toxicities, delay the onset, and decrease the duration of CRS.
Neurologic toxicities occurred in 85% (11/13) of patients with relapsed/refractory primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) in Study 4. 31% (4/13) of patients had Grade 3 neurologic toxicities. The median time to onset of neurologic toxicities was 3 days (range: 1 to 9 days) and the median time to onset of first Grade ≥ 3 neurologic toxicity was 9.5 days (range: 5 to 158 days). The median duration of neurologic toxicities was 59 days (range: 52 to 87 days) while 45% (5/11) of patients had ongoing neurological toxicities at the time of study withdrawal, death, or data cut off. The most common neurologic toxicities at the time of study withdrawal, death, or data cut off. The most common neurologic toxicities (≥ 10%) in patients with PCNSL included confusional state (38%), headache (31%), somnolence (31%), disturbance in attention (23%), lethargy (23%), tremor (23%), gait disturbance (15%), hypersomnia (15%), insomnia (15%), and seizures (15%).
Monitor patients for signs and symptoms of neurologic toxicities following infusion at least daily for 7 days; and for 2 weeks thereafter and treat promptly. Advise patients to avoid driving for at least 2 weeks following infusion.
HYPERSENSITIVITY REACTIONS
Allergic reactions may occur with the infusion of YESCARTA. Serious hypersensitivity reactions, including anaphylaxis, may be due to dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) or residual gentamicin in YESCARTA.
SERIOUS INFECTIONS
Severe or life-threatening infections occurred after YESCARTA infusion. Infections (all grades) occurred in 45% of patients with NHL. Grade 3 or higher infections occurred in 17% of patients, including ≥ Grade 3 infections with an unspecified pathogen in 12%, bacterial infections in 5%, viral infections in 3%, and fungal infections in 1%. YESCARTA should not be administered to patients with clinically significant active systemic infections. Monitor patients for signs and symptoms of infection before and after infusion and treat appropriately. Administer prophylactic antimicrobials according to local guidelines.
Febrile neutropenia was observed in 36% of patients with NHL and may be concurrent with CRS. In the event of febrile neutropenia, evaluate for infection and manage with broad-spectrum antibiotics, fluids, and other supportive care as medically indicated.
In immunosuppressed patients, including those who have received YESCARTA, life-threatening and fatal opportunistic infections including disseminated fungal infections (e.g., candida sepsis and aspergillus infections) and viral reactivation (e.g., human herpes virus-6 [HHV-6] encephalitis and JC virus progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy [PML]) have been reported. The possibility of HHV-6 encephalitis and PML should be considered in immunosuppressed patients with neurologic events and appropriate diagnostic evaluations should be performed.
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation, in some cases resulting in fulminant hepatitis, hepatic failure, and death, has occurred in patients treated with drugs directed against B cells, including YESCARTA. Perform screening for HBV, HCV, and HIV and management in accordance with clinical guidelines before collection of cells for manufacturing.
PROLONGED CYTOPENIAS
Patients may exhibit cytopenias for several weeks following lymphodepleting chemotherapy and YESCARTA infusion. Grade 3 or higher cytopenias not resolved by Day 30 following YESCARTA infusion occurred in 39% of all patients with NHL and included neutropenia (33%), thrombocytopenia (13%), and anemia (8%). Monitor blood counts after infusion.
HYPOGAMMAGLOBULINEMIA
B-cell aplasia and hypogammaglobulinemia can occur in patients receiving YESCARTA. Hypogammaglobulinemia was reported as an adverse reaction in 14% of all patients with NHL. Monitor immunoglobulin levels after treatment and manage using infection precautions, antibiotic prophylaxis, and immunoglobulin replacement.
The safety of immunization with live viral vaccines during or following YESCARTA treatment has not been studied. Vaccination with live virus vaccines is not recommended for at least 6 weeks prior to the start of lymphodepleting chemotherapy, during YESCARTA treatment, and until immune recovery following treatment.
SECONDARY MALIGNANCIES
Patients treated with YESCARTA may develop secondary malignancies. T cell malignancies have occurred following treatment of hematologic malignancies with BCMA- and CD19-directed genetically modified autologous T cell immunotherapies, including YESCARTA. Mature T cell malignancies, including CAR-positive tumors, may present as soon as weeks following infusion, and may include fatal outcomes.
Monitor life-long for secondary malignancies. In the event that a secondary malignancy occurs, contact Kite at 1-844-454-KITE (5483) to obtain instructions on patient samples to collect for testing.
ADVERSE REACTIONS
The most common adverse reactions (incidence ≥ 30%) in:
patients with LBCL in Study 1 included fever, CRS, fatigue, hypotension, encephalopathy, tachycardia, diarrhea, headache, musculoskeletal pain, nausea, and febrile neutropenia.
patients with LBCL in Study 2 included CRS, fever, hypotension, encephalopathy, tachycardia, fatigue, headache, decreased appetite, chills, diarrhea, febrile neutropenia, nausea, hypoxia, tremor, and cough.
patients with PCNSL in Study 4 included sinus tachycardia, CRS, pyrexia, headache, encephalopathy, hypotension, diarrhea, vomiting, chills, fatigue, musculoskeletal pain, hypoxia, rash maculo-papular, cough, nausea, constipation, musculoskeletal weakness, dizziness, thrombosis, gait disturbance, weight decreased, tremor, insomnia, and dyspnea.
patients with FL in Study 3 included fever, CRS, hypotension, encephalopathy, fatigue, headache, infections with pathogen unspecified, tachycardia, febrile neutropenia, musculoskeletal pain, nausea, and tremor.
The most common (≥30%) Grade 3-4 laboratory abnormalities in:
patients with LBCL in Study 1 included leukocyte decrease, neutrophil decrease, lymphocyte decrease, and hemoglobin decrease.
patients with LBCL in Study 2 included lymphocyte decrease, leukocyte decrease, neutrophil decrease, hemoglobin decrease, platelet decrease, and phosphate decrease.
patients with FL in Study 3 included lymphocyte decrease, leukocyte decrease, neutrophil decrease, platelet decrease, and hemoglobin decrease.
Please see full Prescribing Information, including BOXED WARNING and Medication Guide.
(Press release, Gilead Sciences, FEB 6, 2026, View Source [SID1234662530])