Idecabtagene vicleucel

Multiple myeloma is a cancer where plasma cells rapidly divide out of control. These cancerous cells generally express the B-cell maturation antigen, while it is rarely expressed on non-cancerous cells. Multiple myeloma is typically treated with an immunomodulatory agent like lenalidomide, a proteasome inhibitor like bortezomib, or an anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody like isatuximab.

Idecabtagene vicleucel, also known as bb2121, is a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy like axicabtagene ciloleucel and brexucabtagene autoleucel. These therapies involve extracting and genetically manipulating T-cells from a patient to express a CAR for a tumor specific antigen. The chimeric antigen receptor of idecabtagene vicleucel includes an anti-B-cell maturation antigen scFv-targeting domain, CD3ζ T-cell activation domain, and 4-1BB costimulatory domain. Idecabtagene vicleucel is indicated as a fifth line treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma.

Idecabtagene vicleucel was granted FDA approval on 26 March 2021.