On February 1, 2021 Legend Biotech Corporation (NASDAQ: LEGN) ("Legend Biotech"), a global clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company engaged in the discovery and development of novel cell therapies for oncology and other indications, reported that the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has accepted a request for an accelerated assessment of the Marketing Authorisation Application (MAA) for the investigational B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA) targeted chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy ciltacabtagene autoleucel (cilta-cel) (Press release, Legend Biotech, FEB 1, 2021, View Source [SID1234574468]).

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The request was made by Legend’s collaborator, Janssen Biotech, Inc. (Janssen). An accelerated assessment of the MAA is granted by the CHMP when a medicinal product is expected to be of major public health interest and therapeutic innovation.1

The MAA, which is targeted for submission in the first half of 2021, is based on results from the pivotal Phase 1b/2 CARTITUDE-1 study which evaluated the efficacy and safety of cilta-cel in the treatment of patients with relapsed and/or refractory multiple myeloma. Results from the study were presented (Abstract #177) at the 62nd American Society of Hematology (ASH) (Free ASH Whitepaper) Annual Meeting last month.2

"The acceptance of the request for an accelerated assessment is an important testament for the potential use of cilta-cel in treating patients with multiple myeloma," said Ying Huang, PhD, CEO and CFO of Legend Biotech. "Together with our collaborator Janssen, we look forward to working with the EMA as we advance this treatment option toward market and provide new hope for patients."

The accelerated assessment milestone in Europe follows the December 2020 announcement of initiation of a rolling submission of the Biologics License Application for cilta-cel to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Cilta-cel previously received a PRIority MEdicines (PRiME) designation from the European Commission in April 2019.

About CARTITUDE-1

CARTITUDE-1 (NCT03548207) is an ongoing Phase 1b/2, open-label, multicenter study evaluating the safety and efficacy of cilta-cel in adults with relapsed and/or refractory multiple myeloma, 99 percent of whom were refractory to the last line of treatment; 88 percent of whom were triple-class refractory (to at least 1 immunomodulatory drug [IMiD], 1 proteasome inhibitor [PI] and 1 anti-CD38 antibody).3

The primary objective of the Phase 1b portion of the study was to characterize the safety and confirm the dose of cilta-cel, informed by the first-in-human study with LCAR-B38M CAR-T cells (LEGEND-2). The Phase 2 portion further evaluated the efficacy of cilta-cel with overall response rate as the primary endpoint. 3

About Ciltacabtagene autoleucel (cilta-cel)

Cilta-cel is an investigational chimeric antigen receptor T cell (CAR-T) therapy, formerly identified as JNJ-4528 outside of China and LCAR-B38M CAR-T cells in China, that is being studied in a comprehensive clinical development program for the treatment of patients with relapsed and/or refractory multiple myeloma and in earlier lines of treatment. The design consists of a structurally differentiated CAR-T with two BCMA-targeting single domain antibodies. In December 2017, Legend Biotech, Inc. entered into an exclusive worldwide license and collaboration agreement with Janssen Biotech, Inc. to develop and commercialize cilta-cel.

In addition to a Breakthrough Therapy Designation (BTD) granted in the U.S. in December 2019, cilta-cel received a BTD in China in August 2020. In addition, Orphan Drug Designation was granted for cilta-cel by the U.S. FDA in February 2019, and by the European Commission in February 2020.

About Multiple Myeloma

Multiple myeloma is an incurable blood cancer that starts in the bone marrow and is characterized by an excessive proliferation of plasma cells.4 Although treatment may result in remission, unfortunately, patients will most likely relapse. 5 Relapsed myeloma is when the disease has returned after a period of initial, partial or complete remission and does not meet the definition of being refractory.6 Refractory multiple myeloma is when a patient’s disease is non-responsive or progresses within 60 days of their last therapy.7,8 While some patients with multiple myeloma have no symptoms until later stages of the disease, most patients are diagnosed due to symptoms that can include bone problems, low blood counts, calcium elevation, kidney problems or infections.9 Patients who relapse after treatment with standard therapies, including protease inhibitors and immunomodulatory agents, have poor prognoses and few treatment options.10