Arcellx, Inc. a biotechnology company reimagining cell therapy through the development of innovative immunotherapies for patients with cancer and other incurable diseases, announced today that it has received notification from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that a clinical hold has been placed on its CART-ddBCMA investigational new drug (IND) for the treatment of patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma (rrMM).

The clinical hold was received on June 16, following a recent patient death. The company believes limitations on bridging therapy are a contributing factor and is working with FDA to amend the protocol to expand options for patients that are consistent with current clinical practice. The FDA has provided clearance to Arcellx to continue to dose patients who have undergone lymphodepletion.

"The safety and well-being of patients enrolled in our studies is our top priority," said Rami Elghandour, Arcellx's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer." In coordination with our investigators, data safety monitoring board (DSMB), and our partners at Kite Pharma, we are working with FDA to address the clinical hold. The expansion of bridging therapy regimens is consistent with what's currently available in clinical practice and is in the best interest of patients. Additionally, we continue to evaluate other potential improvements to the study. We remain confident that CART-ddBCMA is a potential best-in-class therapy for the treatment of patients with rrMM based on the clinical profile observed in the patients dosed to date across our studies. The drug product release characteristics from iMMagine-1 are consistent with those from our Phase 1 study. The manufacturing success rate remains 100% while ramping Lonza, our cell therapy manufacturer, to full scale. Fourteen clinical sites have been opened and study enrollment is tracking to our expectations. We look forward to resolving this matter expeditiously and to continue to advance our therapy to the benefit of patients suffering from rrMM."

Source:ir.arcellx.com