TLDR
- CAR‑NK plus rituximab shows 100% disease control in lymphoma patients.
- Durable complete responses extend to 15 months without chemo or lymphodepletion.
- All four enrolled patients with Waldenström lymphoma remain disease controlled.
- Outpatient CAR‑NK regimen achieves rapid remission after just two cycles.
- ImmunityBio’s off‑the‑shelf CAR‑NK cells drive durable lymphoma remissions.
CULVER CITY, Calif. ImmunityBio, Inc. (IBRX) announced extended efficacy and safety data from its ongoing QUILT‑106 clinical study evaluating an allogeneic CD19 CAR‑NK cell therapy with rituximab in Waldenström Non‑Hodgkin lymphoma. The company reported durable complete responses and 100% disease control in treated patients. This updated analysis reinforces the potential of a chemotherapy‑free, outpatient immunotherapy approach.
Durable Complete Remissions in CAR‑NK Trial
Updated follow‑up from QUILT‑106 shows sustained complete responses extending up to 15 months and ongoing in treated patients. All four enrolled patients who had relapsed or refractory disease achieved clinical disease control following treatment with CAR‑NK cells combined with rituximab. Patients received eight doses of CD19 CAR‑NK cells and six doses of rituximab every 21 days, with response evaluation after two cycles.
The trial’s regimen did not include lymphodepletion or chemotherapy, highlighting a significant shift from conventional CAR‑T therapies that require intensive conditioning. The bone marrow involvement patient with approximately 95% tumor infiltration achieved complete morphological remission that has been maintained for 15 months without additional treatment. This durable control underscores an immune‑mediated effect that persists post‑therapy cessation.
This study offers what may be the first evidence of a chemotherapy‑free CAR‑NK therapy achieving durable remissions in an indolent B‑cell malignancy. All patients were treated entirely in outpatient settings, with no serious adverse events reported, further supporting feasibility and safety. ImmunityBio’s approach aims to reduce treatment morbidity traditionally associated with cell therapies.
Clinical Details and Treatment Regimen
Patients in QUILT‑106 received two doses per cycle of CD19 CAR‑NK cells alongside rituximab, targeting CD19 and CD20 on lymphoma cells. The dual targeting mechanism enhances direct cytotoxicity and antibody‑dependent cellular cytotoxicity, which may improve tumor cell eradication. Responses were rapid, with complete remissions observed after only two cycles of therapy.
The trial’s positive safety profile showed no serious adverse events, and all treatments were administered without lymphodepletion chemotherapy. This outpatient regimen marks an advancement in the tolerability of potent cellular immunotherapies for typical lymphoma patients who often face challenging toxicity profiles with CAR‑T cell products.
These data highlight the promise of CAR‑NK therapy as a next‑generation immunotherapy platform. The company plans to design a follow‑up study to evaluate the combination of CAR‑NK cells with ANKTIVA (nogapendekin alfa inbakicept, an IL‑15 superagonist), rituximab, and other agents to build on these early successes in indolent lymphoma.
Broader Context and Next Steps
Waldenström Non‑Hodgkin lymphoma remains a rare and challenging B‑cell malignancy with limited effective treatment options for relapsed or refractory patients. The updated QUILT‑106 results suggest that off‑the‑shelf CAR‑NK therapy combined with rituximab may represent a new therapeutic option that balances efficacy and safety. Enrollment and follow‑up in the study continue and further clinical updates are expected as additional patients become evaluable.
ImmunityBio’s CD19 CAR‑NK therapy is engineered to express a CD19‑specific chimeric antigen receptor plus a high‑affinity CD16 receptor to enhance cellular cytotoxicity. This next‑generation cell therapy approach supports durable immune control without the need for continuous therapy, which may address key limitations of current lymphoma treatments
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