ZUMA-6 clinical trial enrolls first patient

Kite Pharma has enrolled its first patient into the Phase 1b/2 ZUMA-6 clinical trial involving KTE-C19.

The trial will combine KTE-C19 with Genentech’s anti-PD-L1 cancer immunotherapy atezolizumab and assess the safety and effectiveness of the combination therapy on patients who have refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DBCL).

“The ZUMA-6 combination study is a core element of our broad strategy to optimize KTE-C19 treatment outcomes and to significantly extend the important potential benefits of KTE-C19 monotherapy,” Kite Executive Vice President of Research and Development and Chief Medical Officer Dr. David Chang said. “We view the scientific rationale for this combination study as compelling and look forward to advancing the study based on our extensive clinical experience.”

The use of PD-L1 to treat DLBCL has proved to cause high-risk disease and poor treatment outcomes. This is due to the contact between PD-L1 and PD-1, which can hinder the activity of the T-cell on some patients. However, combining PD-L1 with KTE-C19 could cause a cohesive effect that could improve and extend KTE-C19’s activity and production.

Kite’s partnership with Genentech began in March so the safety and effectiveness of the KTE-C19-atezolizumab combination could be tested.