Brexucabtagene autoleucel for BTKi-naive relapsed/refractory mantle cell lymphoma: primary analysis of ZUMA-2 cohort 3

T Tom van Meerten M Marie José Kersten G Gloria Iacoboni (7Department of Hematology, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain) G Georg Hess (4Department of Hematology/Oncology, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz, Mainz, Germany) P Pim Mutsaers (5Department of Hematology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands) A Alejandro Martin Garcia-Sancho A Andre Goy (14Division of Oncology, John Theurer Cancer Center, Hackensack University Medical Center, Hackensack Meridian Health, Hackensack, NJ) E Eva Giné B Brian T. Hill (9Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH) W Wen-Kai Weng (10Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA) P Patrick M. Reagan (16University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY) K Krish Patel (C. U. Shah Medical College, Surendranagar, India) A Ahmed Galal C Charles Herbaux R Robin Sanderson (15Department of Haematology, King's College Hospital, London, United Kingdom) E Edouard Forcade M Max S. Topp (17Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik II, Universitätsklinikum Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany) R Roch Houot (21Service d’Hématologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Pontchaillou, Rennes, France) D Dan Zheng (National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University) W Wangshu Zhang (19Kite, a Gilead company, Santa Monica, CA) J Justyna Kanska (19Kite, a Gilead company, Santa Monica, CA) R Rhine R. Shen (19Kite, a Gilead company, Santa Monica, CA) R Rita Damico Khalid (19Kite, a Gilead company, Santa Monica, CA) I Ioana Kloos (19Kite, a Gilead company, Santa Monica, CA) M Martin Dreyling (LMU Hospital, Munich, Germany) M Michael L. Wang (14The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX)

Abstract

Abstract Brexucabtagene autoleucel (brexu-cel) is an autologous anti-CD19 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy approved for adults with relapsed/refractory (R/R) mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) based on the ZUMA-2 cohort 1 (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02601313) study in which brexu-cel demonstrated a 93% objective response rate (ORR) and 67% complete response (CR) rate in patients with R/R MCL and previous BTKi therapy (N = 60). Here, we report the primary results of ZUMA-2 cohort 3 (brexu-cel in patients with BTKi-naive R/R MCL). Adults received brexu-cel at 2 × 106 anti-CD19 CAR T cells per kilogram. The primary end point was ORR assessed by independent radiology review committee (IRRC). As of 26 November 2023, 95 patients were enrolled, and 86 received brexu-cel; median follow-up was 15.5 months. The primary end point was met, with a 91% ORR (95% confidence interval [CI], 82.5-95.9; P< .0001; N = 86) and a CR rate of 73% (95% CI, 62.6-82.2). Estimated 12-month progression-free survival (PFS), duration of response, and overall survival (OS) rates were 75%, 80%, and 90%, respectively. Among 95 enrolled patients, the ORR was 82%, the CR rate was 66%, and the 12-month PFS and OS rates (95% CI) were 73% (62.1-80.8) and 85% (75.6-90.7), respectively. Most patients (88%) experienced treatment-related grade ≥3 adverse events, including 4 treatment-related grade 5 events. Consistent with cohort 1, brexu-cel demonstrated a high ORR and similar safety profile. These results support the continued use of brexu-cel in patients with R/R MCL, and consideration in some patients without previous BTKi therapy who have high-risk disease. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT04880434.

Article Details

Journal Blood
Volume / Issue Vol. 147, Issue 12
Published March 19, 2026
Pages 1302-1314
ISSN 0006-4971
Publisher Elsevier BV

Journal Info

Blood

Elsevier BV

ISSN: 0006-4971 Health Sciences

Authors (26)

T

Tom van Meerten

M

Marie José Kersten

G

Gloria Iacoboni

7Department of Hematology, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain

G

Georg Hess

4Department of Hematology/Oncology, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz, Mainz, Germany

P

Pim Mutsaers

5Department of Hematology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

A

Alejandro Martin Garcia-Sancho

A

Andre Goy

14Division of Oncology, John Theurer Cancer Center, Hackensack University Medical Center, Hackensack Meridian Health, Hackensack, NJ

E

Eva Giné

B

Brian T. Hill

9Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH

W

Wen-Kai Weng

10Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA

P

Patrick M. Reagan

16University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY

K

Krish Patel

C. U. Shah Medical College, Surendranagar, India

A

Ahmed Galal

C

Charles Herbaux

R

Robin Sanderson

15Department of Haematology, King's College Hospital, London, United Kingdom

E

Edouard Forcade

M

Max S. Topp

17Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik II, Universitätsklinikum Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany

R

Roch Houot

21Service d’Hématologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Pontchaillou, Rennes, France

D

Dan Zheng

National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University

W

Wangshu Zhang

19Kite, a Gilead company, Santa Monica, CA

J

Justyna Kanska

19Kite, a Gilead company, Santa Monica, CA

R

Rhine R. Shen

19Kite, a Gilead company, Santa Monica, CA

R

Rita Damico Khalid

19Kite, a Gilead company, Santa Monica, CA

I

Ioana Kloos

19Kite, a Gilead company, Santa Monica, CA

M

Martin Dreyling

LMU Hospital, Munich, Germany

M

Michael L. Wang

14The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX