Seven-Day Vein-to-Vein Point-of-Care Manufactured CD19 CAR T Cells (GLPG5201) in Relapsed/Refractory CLL/SLL Including Richter’s Transformation: Results from the Phase 1 Euplagia-1 Trial

Background

Despite treatment advances, chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) remain incurable. Patients (pts) with concurrent Richter’s transformation (RT) have poor prognoses with limited treatment options. Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell products targeting CD19 have shown activity in pts with CLL/SLL or RT, yet data are limited and no therapies are approved. Due to limited treatment options and short survival of pts with RT, rapid treatment delivery is essential. A novel decentralized and automated point-of-care (PoC) manufacturing model was developed to administer fresh, autologous CAR-T treatments within 7 days of apheresis. An update on the Phase (Ph) 1 Euplagia-1 trial of PoC manufactured GLPG5201 is presented.

Methods

Euplagia-1 (CTIS: 2022-501686-47-00) is a Ph1/2 study of PoC-manufactured GLPG5201 in pts with R/R CLL or SLL, including pts with RT. Pts with CD19+ R/R CLL/SLL with ≥2 prior therapy lines are eligible. Pts with RT are eligible regardless of prior therapy. GLPG5201, an anti-CD19/41BB CAR-T therapy, is administered as a fresh product following fludarabine/cyclophosphamide lymphodepleting chemotherapy. Upon screening, pts receive daily ibrutinib until leukapheresis. The primary objectives are safety and determining a recommended Ph2 dose (Ph1), and objective response rate (ORR; Ph2). Secondary objectives include additional efficacy measures, pharmacokinetics and feasibility of PoC manufacturing.

Results

As of April 26, 2023, 12 pts were enrolled in Ph1 at dose level (DL) 1 (35×10⁶ CAR+ T cells, n=6) or DL2 (100×10⁶ CAR+ T cells, n=6) at a single institution. All pts were diagnosed with R/R CLL, 7/12 with concurrent RT. Median age was 66 years (range 58–71); 8/12 pts were male. Median prior lines of therapy were 4 (range 2–10); 10/12 pts received a BTK inhibitor, 9/12 pts venetoclax, and 1 pt an allogeneic stem-cell transplant. Five of 7 pts with RT relapsed after, or were refractory to, R-CHOP. Six of 12 pts had a TP53 mutation, 1 pt had a 17p deletion; 11 pts had an unmutated IGHV status and 2 had a complex karyotype reported.

GLPG5201 was manufactured for all pts and administered as a fresh infusion. Median vein-to-vein time was 7 days (range 7–14). Due to lower manufactured CAR+ T cell yield, 3 pts received DL1 instead of the intended DL2. A preserved early memory phenotype for CD4+ and CD8+ CAR T cells was observed in the final product, compared with apheresis starting material (Figure).

Most treatment emergent adverse events (TEAEs) were Grade 1–2; most Grade ≥3 events were hematological (Table). Six (50%) pts had Grade 1–2 cytokine release syndrome (CRS), with no CRS Grade ≥3. No neurotoxicity was reported. A dose limiting toxicity occurred in 1 pt (Grade 4 neutropenia, DL2), which was manageable and within expectations in this pt population. No unexpected GLPG5201-related toxicities were observed; no deaths occurred while pts were on study.

Eleven pts responded to treatment (best ORR 92%). Complete response (CR) was observed for 9 pts (CR rate [CRR] 75%). ORR and CRR were 83% and 67% at DL1, and 100% and 83% at DL2, respectively. All but 1 pt with RT responded (ORR 86%); CR was achieved by 5/7 pts with RT (CRR 71%). One pt with RT was refractory with CD19-negative disease. At the time of analysis, 9/11 (82%) pts had ongoing responses; duration was up to 9 months post-infusion (median follow-up 3.2 months; range 1–9). Two pts progressed after an initial response, 1 pt with CD19-negative disease.

Robust CAR T-cell expansion was observed in all pts by qPCR, with a median maximum expansion of 4.4×10⁵ copies/µg DNA (C_max). Median T_max was 14 days (range 9–20 days). Median AUC_0-28d was 5.3×10⁶ copies/µg DNA × days. GLPG5201 could be detected in peripheral blood up to 9 months post-infusion.

Conclusion

Data from 12 pts enrolled in the Ph1 Euplagia-1 study demonstrate that PoC CAR-T manufacturing with a short vein-to-vein time is feasible. GLPG5201 is administered as a fresh product; median vein-to-vein time is 7 days. There are no unexpected safety findings, and no CRS Grade ≥3 or any ICANS are reported. Efficacy data are encouraging, with a 92% best ORR and 75% CRR; 6/7 pts with RT responded. With this novel PoC manufacturing model, an early phenotype of less differentiated CAR T cells is preserved in the final product. GLPG5201 demonstrates rapid in vivo expansion and durable persistence post-infusion. Euplagia-1 is ongoing, and updated data will be presented.