SOMERSET, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Legend Biotech Corporation (NASDAQ: LEGN) (Legend Biotech), a global clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company engaged in the discovery and development of novel cell therapies for oncology and other indications, today announced that 15 abstracts have been accepted at the upcoming 2021 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting and the European Hematology Association’s (EHA) 2021 Virtual Congress, including new and updated data from the CARTITUDE clinical development program being led by Janssen Research & Development, LLC (Janssen) for the investigational B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA)-directed chimeric antigen receptor T cell (CAR-T) therapy, ciltacabtagene autoleucel (cilta-cel).

“The Legend Biotech team, together with our collaborator Janssen, look forward to sharing the updated efficacy and longer-term safety data for cilta-cel,” said Ying Huang, PhD, CEO and CFO of Legend Biotech. “These exciting data and a wide range of other abstracts highlight our continued commitment and efforts to developing innovative treatments that will make a difference in the lives of those living with multiple myeloma.”

Longer-term follow-up efficacy and safety results from the Phase 1b/2 CARTITUDE-1 study of cilta-cel in patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (Abstract #8005) will be featured in an oral presentation at the 2021 ASCO Meeting and as a poster presentation at EHA (Abstract #EP964). Results from this study supported recent U.S. and European regulatory filings submitted by Legend Biotech’s collaborator, Janssen.

For the first time, data from Cohort A of the CARTITUDE-2 study evaluating the safety and efficacy of cilta-cel in patients with progressive multiple myeloma who have received 1-3 prior lines of therapy, will be presented, being featured as a poster presentation at ASCO (Abstract #8013) and in an oral presentation at EHA (Abstract # S190). Poster presentations at both meetings will provide additional efficacy and safety information with cilta-cel in comparison to standard of care therapies and neurological adverse event mitigation measures.

Select abstracts from both Congresses are below.

ASCO Presentations (June 4-8, 2021)

The abstracts will be released on ASCO Meeting Library on May 19th, 2021 at 5:00 PM EDT.

EHA Presentations (June 9-17, 2021)

The abstracts are available on the EHA website at: https://ehaweb.org/congress.

About CARTITUDE-1

CARTITUDE-1 (NCT03548207) is a Phase 1b/2, open-label, multicenter study evaluating the safety and efficacy of cilta-cel in adults with relapsed and/or refractory with multiple myeloma who have received at least 3 prior lines of therapy or are double refractory to a proteasome inhibitor (PI) and immunomodulatory drug (IMiD), received a PI, an IMiD, and anti-CD38 antibody and documented disease progression within 12 months of starting the most recent therapy.¹ The primary objective of the Phase 1b portion of the study was to characterize the safety and confirm the recommended Phase 2 dose of cilta-cel, informed by the first-in-human study with LCAR-B38M CAR-T cells (LEGEND-2). The Phase 2 portion further evaluated the efficacy of cilta-cel with overall response rate as the primary endpoint.

About CARTITUDE-2

CARTITUDE-2 (NCT04133636) is an ongoing Phase 2 multicohort study evaluating the safety and efficacy of cilta-cel in various clinical settings. Cohort A included patients who had progressive multiple myeloma after 1–3 prior lines of therapy, including PI and IMiD, were lenalidomide refractory, and had no prior exposure to BCMA-targeting agents. The primary objective was percentage of patients with negative minimal residual disease (MRD).²

About Multiple Myeloma

Multiple myeloma is an incurable blood cancer that starts in the bone marrow and is characterized by an excessive proliferation of plasma cells.³ Although treatment may result in remission, unfortunately, patients will most likely relapse.⁴ Relapsed myeloma is when the disease has returned after a period of initial, partial or complete remission and does not meet the definition of being refractory.⁵ Refractory multiple myeloma is when a patient’s disease is non-responsive or progresses within 60 days of their last therapy.^6,7 While some patients with multiple myeloma have no symptoms at all, most patients are diagnosed due to symptoms that can include bone problems, low blood counts, calcium elevation, kidney problems or infections. ⁸ Patients who relapse after treatment with standard therapies, including protease inhibitors and immunomodulatory agents, have poor prognoses and few treatment options available.⁹

About Cilta-cel

Cilta-cel is an investigational chimeric antigen receptor T cell (CAR-T) therapy, formerly identified as JNJ-4528 outside of China and LCAR-B38M CAR-T cells in China, that is being studied in a comprehensive clinical development program for the treatment of patients with relapsed and/or refractory multiple myeloma and in earlier lines of treatment. Cilta-cel is a differentiated CAR-T therapy with two BCMA-targeting single domain antibodies. In December 2017, Legend Biotech, Inc. entered into an exclusive worldwide license and collaboration agreement with Janssen Biotech, Inc. to develop and commercialize cilta-cel. In addition to a Breakthrough Therapy Designation (BTD) granted in the U.S. in December 2019, cilta-cel received a BTD in China in August 2020. In addition, Orphan Drug Designation was granted for cilta-cel by the U.S. FDA in February 2019, and by the European Commission in February 2020. A Biologics License Application seeking approval of cilta-cel was submitted to the U.S. FDA and a Marketing Authorization Application was submitted to the European Medicines Agency.

About Legend Biotech

Legend Biotech is a global clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company engaged in the discovery and development of novel cell therapies for oncology and other indications. Our team of over 800 employees across the United States, China and Europe, along with our differentiated technology, global development, and manufacturing strategies and expertise, provide us with the strong potential to discover, develop, and manufacture best-in-class cell therapies for patients in need.

Legend Biotech is engaged in a strategic collaboration to develop and commercialize the lead product candidate, cilta-cel, an investigational BCMA-targeted CAR-T cell therapy for patients living with multiple myeloma. This candidate is currently being studied in registrational clinical trials.

To learn more about Legend Biotech, visit us on LinkedIn, or on Twitter @LegendBiotech or at www.legendbiotech.com.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this press release about future expectations, plans and prospects, as well as any other statements regarding matters that are not historical facts, may constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements relating to Legend Biotech’s clinical efforts, its partnership with Janssen, and the data relating to CARTITUDE-1 and LEGEND-2 studies. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “target,” “will,” “would” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including the factors discussed in the “Risk Factors” section of the Annual Report filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 2, 2021. Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date hereof, and Legend Biotech specifically disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Readers should not rely upon the information on this page as current or accurate after its publication date.

References

1. CARTITUDE-1 (NCT03548207). Available: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03548207. Accessed November 2020.

2. CARTITUDE-2 (NCT04133636). Available: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04133636. Accessed April 2021.

3. American Society of Clinical Oncology. Multiple myeloma: introduction. Available at: https://www.cancer.net/cancer-types/multiple-myeloma/introduction. Accessed November 2020.

4. Abdi J, Chen G, Chang H, et al. Drug resistance in multiple myeloma: latest findings and new concepts on molecular mechanisms. Oncotarget. 2013;4:2186–2207.

5. National Cancer Institute. NCI dictionary of cancer terms: relapsed. Available at: https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms?CdrID=45866. Accessed November 2020.

6. National Cancer Institute. NCI dictionary of cancer terms: refractory. Available at: https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms?CdrID=350245. Accessed November 2020.

7. Richardson P, Mitsiades C, Schlossman R, et al. The treatment of relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma. Hematology Am Soc Hematol Educ Program. 2007:317-23.

8. American Cancer Society. Multiple myeloma: early detection, diagnosis and staging. Available at: https://www.cancer.org/content/dam/CRC/PDF/Public/8740.00.pdf. Accessed November 2020.

9. Kumar SK, Lee JH, Lahuerta JJ, et al. Risk of progression and survival in multiple myeloma relapsing after therapy with IMiDs and bortezomib: a multicenter international myeloma working group study. Leukemia. 2012;26:149-57.

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