TOKYO, January 20, 2022 -- Bristol-Myers Squibb K.K. today announced that Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare has approved Abecma (idecabtagene vicleucel), a B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA)-directed chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell immunotherapy, for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory (R/R) multiple myeloma, who have received at least three prior therapies, including an immunomodulatory agent, a proteasome inhibitor and an anti-CD38 antibody, and have either experienced disease progression on the last therapy or relapse after the last therapy.

Abecmais the first CAR T cell therapy approved for the treatment of R/R multiple myeloma in Japan. With this approval, Bristol Myers Squibb is now the only company in Japan with two approved CAR T cell therapies-the CD19-directed Breyanzi, which received approval in March 2021, and the BCMA-directed Abecma.

The approval is based on efficacy and safety data sourced from the global Phase 2 Study BB2121-MM-001 conducted in Japan, the U.S., the EU, and Canada, and the Phase 1 Study CRB-401 in the U.S. (details are provided below).

Despite advances in treatment, multiple myeloma remains an incurable disease, and many patients suffer through periods of remission and relapse. Until now there have been no approved therapeutic options in Japan for the treatment of multiple myeloma patients who have received three or more prior therapies, including an immunomodulatory agent, a proteasome inhibitor and an anti-CD38 antibody. Consequently, there is a significant unmet medical need for novel, effective therapies.

Dr. Tadao Ishida of the Japanese Red Cross Medical Center, who participated in the clinical study of Abecma, said, "I am delighted that Abecma has been approved as the first CAR T cell therapy in Japan targeting BCMA. We hope that this cell therapy will bring new hope to patients suffering from relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma. To make full use of this new CAR T cell therapy, the cooperation and collaboration of doctors and others who will be involved in its dispensation will be essential. It will also be important for doctors to work closely together with companies involved. We will work diligently to develop a robust treatment system incorporating the proper use of Abecma so that we can contribute to the treatment of as many patients with multiple myeloma as possible."

Jean-Christophe Barland, President and CEO of Bristol-Myers Squibb K.K., said, "I am very pleased that we have received approval for our second CAR T cell therapy, thus becoming the first and only company in Japan to receive approval for two CAR T cell therapies with distinct targets across multiple diseases. Abecma delivers a new treatment option for patients with multiple myeloma, the first option directed against BCMA and using a new mode of action. This approval is a testament to our strong commitment to addressing unmet medical needs for patients in Japan. As a game-changer committed to 'innovation with heart,' Bristol Myers Squibb Japan will continue its efforts to help patients prevail over serious diseases."

Abecma is a personalized immune cell therapy approved as a one-time infusion. As an anti-BCMA CAR T cell therapy, Abecma recognizes and binds to BCMA, a protein that is nearly universally expressed on cancer cells in multiple myeloma, leading to the death of BCMA-expressing cells.

BB2121-MM-001 / CRB-401 Trial Key Results

In the BB2121-MM-001 trial (128 non-Japanese subjects and 9 Japanese subjects infused with ide-cel), the overall response rate [95% CI], which was the primary endpoint, was 73.4% [65.8, 81.1](target dose of 150, 300 or 450 x 106) in 128 non-Japanese subjects, which was statistically significant compared to the threshold value of 50%. The overall response rate [95% CI] in the 9 Japanese subjects (target dose of 450 x 106) was 88.9% [51.8, 99.7]. In the CRB-401 trial(21 subjects in dose escalation: target dose of 50, 150, 450 or 800 x 106; 41 subjects in dose expansion: target dose of 150 or 450 x 106), the overall response rate [95% CI] was 74.2% [61.5, 84.5]in the overall 62 subjects and 84.2% [68.7, 94.0]in the 38 subjects (target dose of 450 x 106).

Adverse reactions occurred in 134 patients out of 137 (including 9 Japanese) treated with Abecma in the BB2121-MM-001 trial. Adverse reactions included cytokine release syndrome (84.7%), neutropenia (59.9%), thrombocytopenia (45.3%), anaemia (38.0%), leukopenia (27.7%), fatigue (16.1%), lymphopenia (14.6%), hypogammaglobulinemia (11.7%) and pyrexia (10.2%) (aggregated until approval). Adverse reactions occurred in 55 patients out of 62 treated with Abecma in the CRB-401 trial. Adverse reactions included cytokine release syndrome (75.8%), neutropenia (41.9%), thrombocytopenia (40.3%), anaemia (38.7%), fatigue (32.3%), leukopenia (27.4%), lymphopenia (16.1%), nausea (14.5%), headache (14.5%), hypophosphataemia (12.9%), and upper respiratory tract infection (11.3%) (aggregated until approval).

Bristol Myers Squibb: Creating a Better Future for People with Cancer

Bristol Myers Squibb is inspired by a single vision - transforming patients' lives through science. The goal of the company's cancer research is to deliver medicines that offer each patient a better, healthier life and to make cure a possibility. Building on a legacy across a broad range of cancers that have changed survival expectations for many, Bristol Myers Squibb researchers are exploring new frontiers in personalized medicine, and through innovative digital platforms, are turning data into insights that sharpen their focus. Deep scientific expertise, cutting-edge capabilities and discovery platforms enable the company to look at cancer from every angle. Cancer can have a relentless grasp on many parts of a patient's life, and Bristol Myers Squibb is committed to taking actions to address all aspects of care, from diagnosis to survivorship. Because as a leader in cancer care, Bristol Myers Squibb is working to empower all people with cancer to have a better future.Learn more about the science behind cell therapy and ongoing research at Bristol Myers Squibbhere.

About Bristol Myers Squibb

Bristol Myers Squibb is a global biopharmaceutical company whose mission is to discover, develop and deliver innovative medicines that help patients prevail over serious diseases. For more information about Bristol Myers Squibb, visit us atBMS.comor follow us onLinkedIn,Twitter,YouTube,FacebookandInstagram.

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Bristol-Myers Squibb Company published this content on 20 January 2022 and is solely responsible for the information contained therein. Distributed by Public, unedited and unaltered, on 20 January 2022 11:30:07 UTC.