Abecma is a medicine used to treat adults with multiple myeloma (a cancer of the bone marrow) when the cancer has come back (relapsed) and has not responded to treatment (refractory). It is used in adults who have received at least two prior therapies, including an immunomodulatory agent, a proteasome inhibitor and an anti‑CD38 antibody and whose disease has worsened since the last treatment. Abecma is a type of advanced therapy medicine called ‘gene therapy’. This type of medicine works by delivering genes into the body. Multiple myeloma is rare, and Abecma was designated an ‘orphan medicine’ (a medicine used in rare diseases) on 20 April 2017\. Further information on the orphan designation can be found here: <https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/medicines/human/orphan-designations/eu3171863> Abecma contains the active substance idecabtagene vicleucel, which consists of genetically modified T cells (a type of white blood cells).
Therapeutic Indication
Abecma is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma who have received at least two prior therapies, including an immunomodulatory agent, a proteasome inhibitor and an anti CD38 antibody and have demonstrated disease progression on the last therapy.
Therapeutic Area (MeSH)
ATC Code
L01
ATC Item
N/A
Pharmacotherapeutic Group
Antineoplastic agents
Active Substance (Summary)
INN / Common Names
EMA Name
Abecma
Medicine Name
Abecma
Aliases
N/ANo risk management plan link.