Vicki Plaks, Senior Director, Head of Cell Therapy, Oncology Translational Research at Johnson and Johnson, shared on LinkedIn:
“About a week has passed since I returned from the DAVA Oncology Hematology Meeting, where I had the privilege of speaking about the mechanisms that may contribute to the durable clinical outcomes observed with cilta-cel.
Durable outcomes may reflect the interplay among CAR-T cell design, the immune fitness of specific cell populations, cellular expansion in the context of tumor burden and disease characteristics, and the depth of response achieved. Understanding these mechanistic underpinnings is essential as we build on today’s progress and advance toward sustained remission and, ultimately, the possibility of cure in multiple myeloma.
It was particularly meaningful to have Adam Cohen chair the session. He has been an important scientific collaborator in advancing the field, alongside many others who continue to expand what may be possible for patients with multiple myeloma. I also appreciated hearing from my colleagues Mark Wildgust and Jordan Schecter who participated in other sessions and shared their perspectives on the range of advanced therapies for multiple myeloma across the Johnson and Johnson Innovative Medicine portfolio and pipeline.
Equally inspiring was the exceptional community in the room: physicians, academic investigators, scientists, and industry leaders exchanging ideas and challenging one another. Meaningful progress against hematologic malignancies requires this collective expertise and diversity of perspective, always centered on the patients and families whose trust and participation make our scientific work possible and unite us in pursuit of a shared goal.
I am an employee of Johnson and Johnson Innovative Medicine. The views expressed here are my own.”
You can also read Outpatient Cilta-cel for Multiple Myeloma: Initial Experience in Carefully Selected Patients on OncoDaily.
