NAV

Brexucabtagene autoleucel

Identification

Summary

Brexucabtagene autoleucel is a modified autologous chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy employing a modified murine anti-CD19 single-chain variable fragment linked to CD28 and CD3ζ co-stimulatory domains for the treatment of patients with relapsed and refractory mantle cell lymphoma.

Brand Names
Tecartus
Generic Name
Brexucabtagene autoleucel
DrugBank Accession Number
DB15699
Background

Mantle cell lymphoma is a heterogeneous sub-category of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma that can be classified as either an aggressive nodal or an indolent leukemic non-nodal variant. Despite the introduction of Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitors such as ibrutinib and acalabrutinib, the prognosis for MCL patients remains poor and those that relapse following BTK inhibitor therapy have few treatment options.2,3

More recently, chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapies have been developed that modify a patient's own T cells using viral transduction to bind to and destroy cancerous cells. These therapies differ in manufacturing methodology, viral vector, chimeric antigen choice, and the internal co-stimulatory domains of the chimeric antigen.6 Similar to axicabtagene ciloleucel, brexucabtagene autoleucel employs a murine anti-CD19 single-chain variable fragment (scFv) linked to internal CD28- and CD3ζ-derived co-stimulatory domains.1,4,7 However, the preparation of brexucabtagene autoleucel, previously referred to as KTE-X19, uses a method of T cell enrichment that decreases the prevalence of CD19-expressing tumour cells in the CAR T cell preparation.7

Brexucabtagene autoleucel was granted accelerated approval for the treatment of relapsed and refractory MCL by the FDA on July 24, 2020, and is currently available through Kite Pharma Inc. under the tradename TECARTUS.7

Type
Biotech
Groups
Approved
Biologic Classification
Cell transplant therapies
Autologous cell transplant
Synonyms
  • Brexucabtagene autoleucel
External IDs
  • KTE X19
  • KTE-X19

Pharmacology

Indication

Brexucabtagene autoleucel is a modified autologous chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell immunotherapy indicated for the treatment of relapsed or refractory mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) in adult patients.7 It is additionally indicated for the treatment of adults with relapsed or refractory B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).7

Brexucabtagene autoleucel has been granted accelerated approval based on results from a single-arm, open-label, multicentre clinical trial; continued approval may be contingent on confirmatory trials.7

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Associated Conditions
Contraindications & Blackbox Warnings
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Pharmacodynamics

Brexucabtagene autoleucel is an autologous T cell immunotherapy employing a CD19-directed chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) to direct modified T cells to bind to and subsequently destroy cancerous B cells.7 Like other CAR T cell therapies, brexucabtagene autoleucel has a durable response; in the single-arm ZUMA-2 trial, the median time to peak CAR T cell levels was 15 days, and 60% of assayed patients had detectable levels of CAR T cells at 24 months following the single infusion.1

As brexucabtagene autoleucel recognizes both normal and cancerous B cells, adverse effects related to B cell depletion are expected, including severe and prolonged cytopenia, severe infections, neurological effects, hypogammaglobulinemia, and the potential to develop secondary malignancies. Patients should be advised not to drive or operate heavy machinery for eight weeks following infusion. Hypersensitivity reactions may occur during infusion.7

Mechanism of action

Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is a heterogeneous sub-category of B cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma typified by overexpression of cyclin D1 and SOX-11 as well as mutations in numerous genes including TP53; overall, these changes lead to increased cell growth, apoptosis inhibition, and cell-adhesion-mediated drug resistance.2,3 Based on the 2016 World Health Organization guidelines, MCL can be generally subdivided into aggressive nodal and indolent leukemic non-nodal subtypes.2,3 Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitors can be used following a relapse of front-line therapy, but patients who relapse after BTK inhibitor therapy have a poor prognosis.1

Chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) are synthetic immunoreceptors that can be introduced into T cells ex vivo using viral transduction and that allow for major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-independent direction of T cells to any cell possessing the complementary antigen.4 Brexucabtagene autoleucel employs a murine anti-CD19 single-chain variable fragment (scFv) linked to internal CD28- and CD3ζ-derived co-stimulatory domains.7 Brexucabtagene autoleucel is prepared from the patient's own peripheral blood mononuclear cells using a leukapheresis methodology that excludes CD19-expressing tumour cells to avoid potential activation and exhaustion of CAR T cells during manufacturing.1 Collected cells are activated with anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 antibodies along with IL-2, transduced with a replication-incompetent retroviral vector, and subsequently expanded prior to infusion.7

Once infused into the patient, the CAR T cells bind to CD19 antigens on the surface of both normal and cancerous B cells, leading to CAR T cell activation and expansion. Activated CAR T cells secrete cytokines and chemokines including, but not limited to, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-15, TNF-α, IFN-γ, and soluble IL-2 (sIL2Rα), leading to tumour cell lysis and anti-tumour activity.5,7

TargetActionsOrganism
AB-lymphocyte antigen CD19
binder
Humans
Absorption

Patients in the ZUMA-2 clinical trial received a target dose of 2 x 106 CAR T cells/kg, which expanded to a variable degree among responders and non-responders; peak levels were reached within the first seven to 15 days following infusion.1,7 Median peak CAR T cell levels were 102.4 cells/μL (range 0.2 to 2589.5) in responders and 12.0 cells/μL (range 0.2 to 1354.0) in non-responders. The corresponding median AUC0-28 for responders and non-responders was 1487.0 cells/μL*day (range 3.8 to 2.77E+04) and 169.5 cells/μL*day (range 1.8 to 1.17E+04), respectively.7

These values were also assessed based on the co-administration of immunosuppressive therapy. Patients receiving neither corticosteroids nor tocilizumab had a peak of 24.7 cells/μL with an AUC0-28 of 360.4 cells/μL*day, patients receiving only corticosteroids had a peak of 24.2 cells/μL and an AUC0-28 of 367.8 cells/μL*day, and patients receiving only tocilizumab had a peak of 86.5 cells/μL and an AUC0-28 of 1188.9 cells/μL*day. The highest counts were in patients receiving both corticosteroids and tocilizumab, with a peak of 167.2 cells/μL and an AUC0-28 of 1996.0 cells/μL*day.7

Finally, separating patients into those < 65 years of age of ≥ 65 years of age, patients in the lower age group had a median peak of 112.5 cells/μL and a median AUC0-28 of 1640.2 cells/μL*day. Older patients had a median peak count of 74.1 cells/μL and a median AUC0-28 of 876.5 cells/μL*day.7

Volume of distribution

Not Available

Protein binding

Not Available

Metabolism
Not Available
Route of elimination

Not Available

Half-life

Not Available

Clearance

Not Available

Adverse Effects
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Toxicity

Toxicity information regarding brexucabtagene autoleucel is not readily available. Patients experiencing an overdose are at an increased risk of severe adverse effects such as severe infections, severe and prolonged cytopenia, hypogammaglobulinemia, cytokine release syndrome, and neurological toxicities.6,7 Symptomatic and supportive measures are recommended.

Pathways
Not Available
Pharmacogenomic Effects/ADRs
Not Available

Interactions

Drug Interactions
This information should not be interpreted without the help of a healthcare provider. If you believe you are experiencing an interaction, contact a healthcare provider immediately. The absence of an interaction does not necessarily mean no interactions exist.
DrugInteraction
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interactions in your software
Darbepoetin alfaThe risk or severity of Thrombosis can be increased when Darbepoetin alfa is combined with Brexucabtagene autoleucel.
ErythropoietinThe risk or severity of Thrombosis can be increased when Erythropoietin is combined with Brexucabtagene autoleucel.
Methoxy polyethylene glycol-epoetin betaThe risk or severity of Thrombosis can be increased when Methoxy polyethylene glycol-epoetin beta is combined with Brexucabtagene autoleucel.
PeginesatideThe risk or severity of Thrombosis can be increased when Peginesatide is combined with Brexucabtagene autoleucel.
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Food Interactions
No interactions found.

Products

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Brand Name Prescription Products
NameDosageStrengthRouteLabellerMarketing StartMarketing EndRegionImage
TecartusSuspension1000000 1/68mLIntravenousKite Pharma, Inc.2021-10-01Not applicableUS flag
TecartusSuspension120000000 cellsIntravenousKite Pharma Eu B.V.2021-03-17Not applicableEU flag
TecartusSuspension2000000 1/68mLIntravenousKite Pharma, Inc.2020-07-24Not applicableUS flag
TecartusSuspension200000000 cells / bagIntravenousGilead Sciences2021-12-16Not applicableCanada flag

Categories

Drug Categories
Classification
Not classified
Affected organisms
  • Humans and other mammals

Chemical Identifiers

UNII
4MD2J2T8SJ
CAS number
Not Available

References

Synthesis Reference

Arianne Perez, Stuart A. Sievers, Ruben Alvarez Rodriguez, and Jonathan Belk. "Chimeric antigen receptors and CAR-T cells and methods of use." U.S. Patent US2019065776, issued June 18, 2020.

General References
  1. Wang M, Munoz J, Goy A, Locke FL, Jacobson CA, Hill BT, Timmerman JM, Holmes H, Jaglowski S, Flinn IW, McSweeney PA, Miklos DB, Pagel JM, Kersten MJ, Milpied N, Fung H, Topp MS, Houot R, Beitinjaneh A, Peng W, Zheng L, Rossi JM, Jain RK, Rao AV, Reagan PM: KTE-X19 CAR T-Cell Therapy in Relapsed or Refractory Mantle-Cell Lymphoma. N Engl J Med. 2020 Apr 2;382(14):1331-1342. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1914347. [Article]
  2. Jain P, Wang M: Mantle cell lymphoma: 2019 update on the diagnosis, pathogenesis, prognostication, and management. Am J Hematol. 2019 Jun;94(6):710-725. doi: 10.1002/ajh.25487. Epub 2019 Apr 19. [Article]
  3. Maddocks K: Update on mantle cell lymphoma. Blood. 2018 Oct 18;132(16):1647-1656. doi: 10.1182/blood-2018-03-791392. Epub 2018 Aug 28. [Article]
  4. Roberts ZJ, Better M, Bot A, Roberts MR, Ribas A: Axicabtagene ciloleucel, a first-in-class CAR T cell therapy for aggressive NHL. Leuk Lymphoma. 2018 Aug;59(8):1785-1796. doi: 10.1080/10428194.2017.1387905. Epub 2017 Oct 23. [Article]
  5. Jain MD, Bachmeier CA, Phuoc VH, Chavez JC: Axicabtagene ciloleucel (KTE-C19), an anti-CD19 CAR T therapy for the treatment of relapsed/refractory aggressive B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Ther Clin Risk Manag. 2018 May 31;14:1007-1017. doi: 10.2147/TCRM.S145039. eCollection 2018. [Article]
  6. Brudno JN, Kochenderfer JN: Recent advances in CAR T-cell toxicity: Mechanisms, manifestations and management. Blood Rev. 2019 Mar;34:45-55. doi: 10.1016/j.blre.2018.11.002. Epub 2018 Nov 14. [Article]
  7. FDA Approved Drug Products: Tecartus (brexucabtagene autoleucel) suspension [Link]
RxNav
2387277
Wikipedia
Brexucabtagene_autoleucel

Clinical Trials

Clinical Trials
PhaseStatusPurposeConditionsCount
2Active Not RecruitingTreatmentRelapsed / Refractory Mantle Cell Lymphoma (MCL)1
2Enrolling by InvitationTreatmentSolid and Hematological Malignancies1
2RecruitingTreatmentRelapsed / Refractory Mantle Cell Lymphoma (MCL)1
1Active Not RecruitingTreatmentRelapsed/Refractory Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia and Relapsed/Refractory Small Lymphocytic Lymphoma1
1, 2Active Not RecruitingTreatmentRelapsed/Refractory B-Precursor Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL)1
1, 2RecruitingTreatmentRelapsed/Refractory B-Cell Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma / Relapsed/Refractory B-Precursor Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL)1
Not AvailableApproved for MarketingNot AvailableRelapse/Refractory Mantle Cell Lymphoma1
Not AvailableRecruitingNot AvailableAcute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) / Large B Cell Lymphoma1

Pharmacoeconomics

Manufacturers
Not Available
Packagers
Not Available
Dosage Forms
FormRouteStrength
SuspensionIntravenous1000000 1/68mL
SuspensionIntravenous120000000 cells
SuspensionIntravenous2000000 1/68mL
SuspensionIntravenous200000000 cells / bag
Prices
Not Available
Patents
Not Available

Properties

State
Not Available
Experimental Properties
Not Available

Targets

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Details1. B-lymphocyte antigen CD19
Kind
Protein
Organism
Humans
Pharmacological action
Yes
Actions
Binder
Curator comments
Brexucabtagene autoleucel employs modified autologous T cells expressing a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) with specificity for the CD19 B cell surface antigen. Binding to CD19 by CAR T cells is major histocompatibility complex-independent, and activates the T cells to induce lysis of the corresponding CD19-expressing cell.
General Function
Receptor signaling protein activity
Specific Function
Assembles with the antigen receptor of B-lymphocytes in order to decrease the threshold for antigen receptor-dependent stimulation.
Gene Name
CD19
Uniprot ID
P15391
Uniprot Name
B-lymphocyte antigen CD19
Molecular Weight
61127.985 Da
References
  1. Wang M, Munoz J, Goy A, Locke FL, Jacobson CA, Hill BT, Timmerman JM, Holmes H, Jaglowski S, Flinn IW, McSweeney PA, Miklos DB, Pagel JM, Kersten MJ, Milpied N, Fung H, Topp MS, Houot R, Beitinjaneh A, Peng W, Zheng L, Rossi JM, Jain RK, Rao AV, Reagan PM: KTE-X19 CAR T-Cell Therapy in Relapsed or Refractory Mantle-Cell Lymphoma. N Engl J Med. 2020 Apr 2;382(14):1331-1342. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1914347. [Article]
  2. Maddocks K: Update on mantle cell lymphoma. Blood. 2018 Oct 18;132(16):1647-1656. doi: 10.1182/blood-2018-03-791392. Epub 2018 Aug 28. [Article]
  3. FDA Approved Drug Products: Tecartus (brexucabtagene autoleucel) suspension [Link]

Drug created at July 27, 2020 06:32 / Updated at June 03, 2022 07:24