Dr. Ostertag on Emerging CAR T Product for Myeloma

Eric M. Ostertag, MD, PhD, chief executive officer, Poseida Therapeutics, Inc., discusses an emerging CAR T stem cell memory product for patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma.

Phase I data for the CAR T stem cell memory product P-BCMA-101 was presented at the 2018 AACR Annual Meeting. A major difference between this product and other CAR T cells is that it was not created using a virus; instead, developers used a technology called DNA transposon. An advantage of this manufacturing technique, Ostertag says, is that it allows researchers to essentially have unlimited cargo capacity. A centyrin is then added to the product instead of a commonly used antibody. Researchers also added a gene that allows for a positive selection. Ostertag says there are data that suggest this translates into a better therapeutic index because it not only kills the tumor, but it also releases cytokines.

The ongoing phase I trial has shown efficacy in 3 patients, including one partial response lasting more than 10 weeks at time of data cutoff.