MADRID, Spain, June 23, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bellicum Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: BLCM ), a leader in developing novel, controllable cellular immunotherapies for cancers and orphan inherited blood disorders, today announced data from its ongoing multicenter BP-004 trial of BPX-501 and rimiducid in a cohort of pediatric patients with acute leukemias who lack a matched donor. Results from 47 patients demonstrated that administering BPX-501 following an alpha/beta T-cell depleted haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplant (alpha/beta T-cell depleted haplo-HSCT) produced rapid immune reconstitution, low incidence of acute and chronic Graft versus Host Disease (GvHD), and a low rate of disease relapse. The data will be reviewed in an oral presentation at the 22nd Congress of the European Hematology Association (EHA) at 5 p.m. CEST on June 24 in Madrid, Spain.
“These data demonstrate that BPX-501-modified T cells can provide rapid hematological reconstitution and a potentially stronger anti-leukemic effect in children with high-risk disease than traditional T-cell depleted transplants,” said Franco Locatelli, MD, PhD, Director of the Department of Hematology and Oncology at Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù in Rome, Italy. “The incidence of GvHD was low, and managed by standard treatments or the administration of rimiducid. Patients who received rimiducid experienced a recovery of the beneficial, non-reactive BPX-501 T cells. These are very encouraging early outcome results for children who need a stem cell transplant and lack a matched donor.”
Summary of Results (Abstract S495)
Investigators evaluated the safety and efficacy of an infusion of BPX-501 in children with high-risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) (n=28) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) (n=19) following an alpha/beta T-cell depleted haplo-HSCT. Patients had a median follow-up of approximately eight months (11 months in surviving patients). Results from the three European trial sites showed:
- Disease relapse rate of 14.72% in BPX-501 treated patients
- Median neutrophil recovery = 16 days (9-24); median platelet engraftment = 11 days (8-19); median time to hospital discharge = 21.5 days (14-103)
- Acute GvHD Grade 2-4 was 11.83%; acute GvHD Grade 3-4 was 4.70%
- Chronic GvHD Grade Moderate-Severe was 3.23%
- Non-relapse mortality (NRM) of 3.23% in BPX-501 patients
- Re-expansion of infection-fighting BPX-501 cells after a sharp decrease following infusion of rimiducid, with no reoccurrence of GvHD
- Results compare favorably to historic controls 1
Commented Rick Fair, President and CEO of Bellicum Pharmaceuticals, “We are pleased by the profile observed with BPX-501 in pediatric patients receiving a haploidentical transplant, and by its potential to reduce disease relapse. These results provide important insights into the potential long-term benefits of BPX-501, and support our plans to begin a mid-stage study this year in adults with hematologic cancers, for whom lack of a matched donor and disease relapse are significant treatment challenges.”
The presentation slides (abstract S495) will be made available in the Events and Presentations section of the Bellicum website shortly after the time of the presentation.
About BPX-501 BPX-501 is an adjunct T-cell therapy administered after allogeneic HSCT, comprising genetically modified donor T cells incorporating Bellicum’s CaspaCIDe ® safety switch. It is designed to provide a safety net to eliminate alloreactive BPX-501 T cells (via administration of activator agent rimiducid) should uncontrollable GvHD occur. This enables physicians to more safely perform stem cell transplants by administering BPX-501 engineered T cells to speed immune reconstitution, provide control over viral infections and enhance Graft-versus-leukemic effect, without unacceptable GvHD risk. The ongoing BP-004 clinical study of BPX-501 is being conducted at transplant centers in the U.S. and Europe.
About Bellicum Pharmaceuticals Bellicum is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing cellular immunotherapies for cancers and orphan inherited blood disorders. Bellicum is using its proprietary Chemical Induction of Dimerization (CID) technology platform to engineer and control components of the immune system. Bellicum is developing next-generation product candidates in some of the most important areas of cellular immunotherapy, including hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), and CAR T and TCR cell therapies. More information can be found at www.bellicum.com .
1 Locatelli F. et al, Blood 2017 in press
Forward-Looking Statement This press release contains forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Bellicum may, in some cases, use terms such as "predicts," "believes," "potential," "proposed," "continue," “designed,” "estimates," "anticipates," "expects," "plans," "intends," "may," "could," "might," "will," "should" or other words that convey uncertainty of future events or outcomes to identify these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding our intentions, beliefs, projections, outlook, analyses or current expectations concerning, among other things: our research and development activities relating to our BPX-501, CaspaCIDe, CID, CAR T and TCR programs; the effectiveness of BPX-501 and of rimiducid; their possible range of application and potential curative effects and safety in the treatment of diseases; and, the timing and success of our clinical trials. Various factors may cause differences between Bellicum’s expectations and actual results as discussed in greater detail under the heading “Risk Factors” in Bellicum’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including without limitation our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 and our report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2017. Any forward-looking statements that Bellicum makes in this press release speak only as of the date of this press release. Bellicum assumes no obligation to update our forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, after the date of this press release.
Investors: Bellicum Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Alan Musso, CFO 832-384-1116 amusso@bellicum.com Media: BMC Communications Brad Miles 646-513-3125 bmiles@bmccommunications.com
