Abecma tripled progression-free survival compared to standard regimens in the Phase 3 KarMMa-3 trial, with a 51% reduction in risk of disease progression or death and a well-established safety profile

Expanded approval brings this personalized CAR T cell therapy to more patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma earlier in their treatment journey as a one-time infusion offering meaningful treatment-free intervals when responding to therapy

Abecma is now approved in the U.S., Japan, Switzerland and the EU for earlier use for triple-class exposed relapsed and/or refractory multiple myeloma, underscoring BMS’ commitment to delivering Abecma globally, with consistently high manufacturing success rates and continuous increases in capacity

PRINCETON, N.J., & CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Bristol Myers Squibb (NYSE: BMY) and 2seventy bio, Inc. (Nasdaq: TSVT) have announced that on April 4, 2024, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Abecma® (idecabtagene vicleucel; ide-cel) for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma after two or more prior lines of therapy including an immunomodulatory agent (IMiD), a proteasome inhibitor (PI), and an anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody, based on results from the KarMMa-3 trial.This approval expands Abecma’s indication, making it available in earlier lines to patients who have relapsed or become refractory after exposure to these three main classes of treatment (triple-class exposed), after two prior lines of therapy. Abecma is administered as a one-time infusion, with a new recommended dose range of 300 to 510 x 106 CAR-positive T cells. Please see the Important Safety Information section below, including Boxed WARNINGS for Abecma regarding Cytokine Release Syndrome, Neurologic Toxicities, Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis/Macrophage Activation Syndrome, Prolonged Cytopenia, and Secondary Hematological Malignancies.

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Product image for download (Photo: Bristol Myers Squibb)

“Abecma has demonstrated a progression-free survival benefit three times that of standard regimens in relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma, and we are now bringing the promise of cell therapy to patients earlier in their treatment journey,” said Bryan Campbell, senior vice president, Head of Commercial, Cell Therapy, Bristol Myers Squibb. “This approval underpins our commitment to addressing the unmet needs of more patients living with multiple myeloma by improving upon the current treatment paradigm, and we remain steadfast in our pursuit of innovation and advancing cell therapy research to deliver potentially transformative therapies.”

“We are extremely pleased that Abecma will be available to many more patients in the U.S.,” said Chip Baird, chief executive officer, 2seventy bio. “This approval represents another important milestone for patients, for Abecma, and for 2seventy bio as we remain committed to increasing treatment options and working to improve outcomes for patients living with multiple myeloma.”

Despite advances in treatment, multiple myeloma remains an incurable disease characterized by periods of remission and relapse. In early lines of treatment, regimens consisting of combinations of IMiDs, PIs, and anti-CD38 monoclonal antibodies are often used to help manage the disease. Unfortunately, as many patients go on to relapse and/or become refractory to these classes of therapy, more patients are becoming triple-class exposed earlier in their treatment journey. There are limited options for these patients, and triple-class exposed relapsed and/or refractory multiple myeloma is associated with poor outcomes and a median progression-free survival (PFS) of three to five months. In this patient population with high unmet need, Abecma has demonstrated clinically meaningful and statistically significant improvements in PFS (95% CI: 13.3 months vs. 4.4 months [HR: 0.49; p