Kite reports response rates in interim ZUMA-1 readout

Data from an interim analysis of the Phase I/II ZUMA-1 trial of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy KTE-C19 from Kite Pharma Inc. (NASDAQ:KITE) showed strong objective response and complete response rates, but raised questions about the durability of the responses.

Kite said a single dose of KTE-C19 led to an objective response rate (ORR) of 76% among 51 evaluable patients with refractory diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL), meeting the primary endpoint of the study's Phase II portion. Kite said 47% of patients achieved a complete response (CR) initially. After three months of follow-up, the ORR fell to 39% and the CR rate to 33%. ...