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News
An investigational CAR T-cell therapy, anitocabtagene autoleucel (anito-cel), matched the response rates of the approved ciltacabtagene autoleucel (cilta-cel) in heavily pretreated multiple myeloma patients — but with significantly fewer serious side effects. A matching-adjusted indirect comparison presented at the 2026 IMS Annual Meeting found anito-cel had lower rates of CRS, neurotoxicity, severe infections, and non-relapse mortality. Notably, zero cases of parkinsonism-like symptoms were seen with anito-cel vs. five with cilta-cel.
A new indirect comparison study is putting an investigational CAR T-cell therapy in a favorable light. Data presented at the 23rd International Myeloma Society Annual Meeting showed that anitocabtagene autoleucel (anito-cel) delivered response rates statistically comparable to the already-approved ciltacabtagene autoleucel (cilta-cel) in patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) who had received four or more prior lines of therapy — while posting a meaningfully better safety profile.
Because no head-to-head trial exists, researchers used a matching-adjusted indirect comparison (MAIC) to align patient populations from the phase 2 iMMagine-1 trial (anito-cel, n=117) and the phase 1b/2 CARTITUDE-1 trial (cilta-cel, n=97). Overall response rates were nearly identical (96% vs. 98%), and complete response rates were similarly comparable (74% vs. 78%).
By the Numbers
Why it matters: For clinicians treating heavily pretreated myeloma patients, a therapy that preserves efficacy while reducing severe toxicities — especially the feared parkinsonism-like neurological events seen with cilta-cel — could meaningfully shift treatment decisions and reduce downstream healthcare resource use. Anito-cel remains investigational, but these findings add momentum to its path toward potential approval.
