Autolus Therapeutics Presents Clinical Data Updates at the 2025 European Hematology Association (EHA) Congress

Rhea-AI Summary

Autolus Therapeutics (Nasdaq: AUTL) presented clinical data updates for obecabtagene autoleucel (obe-cel) at the 2025 EHA Congress. Key findings from the FELIX study in relapsed/refractory B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) patients show:

- 40% of responders maintained remission for ≥3 years without stem cell therapy - Obe-cel demonstrated effectiveness across age groups with favorable remission rates - Low incidence of Grade ≥3 CRS and ICANS complications in both younger and older patients - Factors linked to better outcomes include obe-cel persistence, low disease burden, and earlier treatment - ALL-Hematotox model showed promise in predicting response and safety outcomes

Insights

Oncology & Hematology Specialist

Autolus' obe-cel shows strong durability with 40% ongoing remission after 3+ years in r/r B-ALL patients without subsequent therapy.

Autolus Therapeutics has presented promising clinical updates for obecabtagene autoleucel (obe-cel), their CAR-T therapy for relapsed/refractory B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (r/r B-ALL). The data reveals 40% of responders maintained ongoing remission after ≥3 years without requiring stem cell therapy or additional treatments – a remarkable finding suggesting obe-cel's potential as a definitive treatment option for this challenging patient population.

Three key factors associated with improved outcomes were identified: obe-cel persistence in the body, low disease burden before lymphodepletion, and earlier use of obe-cel in the treatment sequence. This provides valuable clinical guidance for optimal patient selection and timing.

Particularly noteworthy is the age-stratified analysis showing consistent efficacy and safety across younger (<55) and older (≥55) patients. This addresses a critical unmet need, as older patients typically face limited therapeutic options due to comorbidities and reduced tolerance for aggressive treatments. The low incidence of Grade ≥3 cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS) across age groups further validates obe-cel's favorable safety profile.

The hematotoxicity prediction model findings suggest that ALL-specific predictors may better stratify patient risk than general CAR-T models. This could enhance clinical decision-making and potentially expand the eligible patient population by identifying those most likely to benefit with acceptable safety profiles.

These consistent durable responses position Autolus competitively in the CAR-T landscape, especially considering the limited long-term remission rates historically seen in r/r B-ALL, where many patients typically relapse or require additional interventions like stem cell transplantation.

LONDON, May 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Autolus Therapeutics plc (Nasdaq: AUTL), an early commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company developing, manufacturing and delivering next-generation programmed T cell therapies, announces the online publication of three abstracts submitted to the European Hematology Association (EHA) Congress, to be held June 12-15, 2025, Milan, Italy. Autolus will have two oral and one poster presentation, which includes updated follow up from the FELIX study of obecabtagene autoleucel (obe-cel) in adult patients with relapsed/refractory (r/r) B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL).

Oral S113: 
Title: Can CAR T-cell therapy be a definitive treatment for adult r/r B-ALL without transplant? Long-term findings and predictors of sustained remission for obecabtagene autoleucel
Session Name: s447 Immunotherapy and CAR-T cells for ALL
Session room: Coral 6
Session Date and Time: Sunday, June 15; 11:00 - 12:15 CEST
Presenting Author: Jae H Park, MD

Summary: Obe-cel persistence, low disease burden at lymphodepletion and obe-cel use in earlier lines were independent factors associated with better outcomes and longer survival in adult pts with r/r B-ALL. At the current follow-up comprising patients studied for ≥3 years, 40% of responders are in ongoing remission without subsequent stem cell therapy or other new therapies, suggesting the potential of obe-cel as a definitive treatment for adult r/r B-ALL. An updated analysis with additional follow-up is underway and will be presented.

Oral S114:
Title: Efficacy and Safety Outcomes of Obecabtagene Autoleucel (obe-cel) Stratified by Age in Patients with r/r B-ALL  
Session Name: Immunotherapy and CAR-T cells for ALL
Session Room: Coral 6
Session Date and Time: Sunday, June 15; 11:00 - 12:15 CEST
Presenting Author: Bijal D. Shah, MD

Summary: Obe-cel treatment was associated with deep and durable remissions resulting in favorable overall remission rate, event free survival, and overall survival with low incidence of Grade ≥3 CRS and ICANS in both age groups (<55 years and ≥55 years). These findings indicate that obe-cel is effective and has a positive benefit and risk profile regardless of patient age, including in older adults with R/R B-ALL, despite few patients receiving consolidative stem cell therapy.

Poster PF378:
Title: Predicting Hematotoxicity Risk and Outcomes in Relapsed/Refractory B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (r/r B-All): Should Hematotox Models be CAR Specific rather than Disease Specific
Session Title: Poster Session 1
Session date and time: Friday, June 13; 18:30 - 19:30 CEST.
Presenting Author: Claire Roddie, MD

Summary: Although both the CAR-Hematotox (CAR-HT) model, and the ALL-Hematotox (ALL-HT) model show potential, ALL-HT appears to improve risk stratification and may be a better predictor of response, survival and safety outcomes in adult patients with r/r B-ALL treated with obe-cel, than CAR-HT. Taken together with other published reports, our data suggest that the strength of HT-model predictions may be CAR specific. Further analyses are needed.

About Autolus Therapeutics plc
Autolus Therapeutics plc (Nasdaq: AUTL) is an early commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company developing, manufacturing and delivering next-generation T cell therapies and candidates for the treatment of cancer and autoimmune disease. Using a broad suite of proprietary and modular T cell programming technologies, Autolus is engineering precisely targeted and controlled T cell therapies that are designed to better recognize target cells, break down their defense mechanisms and eliminate these cells. Autolus has an FDA approved and MHRA licensed product, AUCATZYL, and a pipeline of product candidates in development for the treatment of hematological malignancies, solid tumors and autoimmune diseases. For more information, please visit www.autolus.com.

About obe-cel FELIX clinical trial
Autolus’ Phase 1b/2 clinical trial of obe-cel enrolled adult patients with r/r B-precursor ALL. The trial had a Phase 1b component prior to proceeding to the single arm, Phase 2 clinical trial. The primary endpoint in the pivotal cohort was overall response rate, and the secondary endpoints included duration of response, MRD negative complete remission rate and safety. The trial enrolled over 100 patients across 30 of the leading academic and non-academic centers in the United States, United Kingdom and Europe. [NCT04404660].

About AUCATZYL^® (obecabtagene autoleucel, obe-cel, AUTO1)
AUCATZYL is a B-lymphocyte antigen CD19 (CD19) chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy. AUCATZYL is designed with a fast target binding off-rate to minimize excessive activation of the programmed T cells. AUCATZYL was approved by the FDA for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia on November 8, 2024, and licensed by the MHRA under conditional marketing authorization on April 25, 2025. In the EU a regulatory submission to the EMA was accepted in April 2024.  

INDICATION

AUCATZYL^® is a CD19-directed genetically modified autologous T cell immunotherapy indicated for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

WARNING: CYTOKINE RELEASE SYNDROME, NEUROLOGIC TOXICITIES, and SECONDARY HEMATOLOGICAL MALIGNANCIES Cytokine Release Syndrome (CRS) occurred in patients receiving AUCATZYL. Do not administer AUCATZYL to patients with active infection or inflammatory disorders. Prior to administering AUCATZYL, ensure that healthcare providers have immediate access to medications and resuscitative equipment to manage CRS. Immune Effector Cell-Associated Neurotoxicity Syndrome (ICANS), including fatal and life-threatening reactions, occurred in patients receiving AUCATZYL, including concurrently with CRS or after CRS resolution. Monitor for neurologic signs and symptoms after treatment with AUCATZYL. Prior to administering AUCATZYL, ensure that healthcare providers have immediate access to medications and resuscitative equipment to manage neurologic toxicities. Provide supportive care and/or corticosteroids, as needed. T cell malignancies have occurred following treatment of hematologic malignancies with BCMA- and CD19-directed genetically modified autologous T cell immunotherapies.

WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS

Cytokine Release Syndrome (CRS)
Cytokine Release Syndrome (CRS) occurred following treatment with AUCATZYL. CRS was reported in 75% (75/100) of patients including Grade 3 CRS in 3% of patients. The median time to onset of CRS was 8 days following the first infusion (range: 1 to 23 days) with a median duration of 5 days (range: 1 to 21 days). The most common manifestations of CRS included fever (100%), hypotension (35%), and hypoxia (19%).

Prior to administering AUCATZYL, ensure that healthcare providers have immediate access to medications and resuscitative equipment to manage CRS. During and following treatment with AUCATZYL, closely monitor patients for signs and symptoms of CRS daily for at least 14 days at the healthcare facility following the first infusion. Continue to monitor patients for CRS for at least 4 weeks following each infusion with AUCATZYL. Counsel patients to seek immediate medical attention should signs or symptoms of CRS occur at any time. At the first sign of CRS, immediately evaluate the patient for hospitalization and institute treatment with supportive care based on severity and consider further management per current practice guidelines.

Neurologic Toxicities
Neurologic toxicities including Immune Effector Cell-associated Neurotoxicity Syndrome (ICANS), which were fatal or life-threatening, occurred following treatment with AUCATZYL. Neurologic toxicities were reported in 64% (64/100) of patients, including Grade ≥ 3 in 12% of patients. The median time to onset of neurologic toxicities was 10 days (range: 1 to 246 days) with a median duration of 13 days (range: 1 to 904 days). Among patients with neurologic toxicities, the most common symptoms (> 5%) included ICANS (38%), headache (34%), encephalopathy (33%), dizziness (22%), tremor (13%), anxiety (9%), insomnia (9%), and delirium (8%).

Immune Effector Cell-associated Neurotoxicity Syndrome (ICANS)
ICANS events occurred in 24% (24/100) of patients, including Grade ≥ 3 in 7% (7/100) of patients. Of the 24 patients who experienced ICANS, 33% (8/24) experienced an onset after the first infusion, but prior to the second infusion of AUCATZYL.

The median time to onset for ICANS events after the first infusion was 8 days (range: 1 to 10 days) and 6.5 days (range: 2 to 22 days) after the second infusion, with a median duration of 8.5 days (range: 1 to 53 days).

Eighty-eight percent (21/24) of patients received treatment for ICANS. All treated patients received high-dose corticosteroids and 42% (10/24) of patients received anti-epileptics prophylactically. Prior to administering AUCATZYL, ensure that healthcare providers have immediate access to medications and resuscitative equipment to manage ICANS.

Counsel patients to seek medical attention should signs or symptoms of neurologic toxicity/ ICANS occur. At the first sign of Neurologic Toxicity /ICANS, immediately evaluate patients for hospitalization and institute treatment with supportive care based on severity and consider further management per current practice guidelines.

Effect on Ability to Drive and Use Machines
Due to the potential for neurologic events, including altered mental status or seizures, patients receiving AUCATZYL are at risk for altered or decreased consciousness or coordination in the eight weeks following AUCATZYL infusion or until resolution of the neurological event by the treating physician. Advise patients to refrain from driving and engaging in hazardous occupations or activities, such as operating heavy or potentially dangerous machinery, during this initial period.

Prolonged Cytopenias
Patients may exhibit cytopenias including anemia, neutropenia, and thrombocytopenia for several weeks after treatment with lymphodepleting chemotherapy and AUCATZYL. In patients who were responders to AUCATZYL, Grade ≥ 3 cytopenias that persisted beyond Day 30 following AUCATZYL infusion were observed in 71% (29/41) of patients and included neutropenia (66%, 27/41) and thrombocytopenia (54%, 22/41). Grade 3 or higher cytopenias that persisted beyond Day 60 following AUCATZYL infusion was observed in 27% (11/41) of patients and included neutropenia (17%, 7/41) and thrombocytopenia (15%, 6/41). Monitor blood counts after AUCATZYL infusion.

Infections
Severe, including life-threatening and fatal infections occurred in patients after AUCATZYL infusion. Non-COVID-19 infections of all grades occurred in 67% (67/100) of patients. Grade 3 or higher non-COVID-19 infections occurred in 41% (41/100) of patients. AUCATZYL should not be administered to patients with clinically significant active systemic infections. Monitor patients for signs and symptoms of infection before and after AUCATZYL infusion and treat appropriately. Administer prophylactic antimicrobials according to local guidelines.
Grade 3 or higher febrile neutropenia was observed in 26% (26/100) of patients after AUCATZYL infusion and may be concurrent with CRS. In the event of febrile neutropenia, evaluate for infection and manage with broad-spectrum antibiotics, fluids, and other supportive care as medically indicated.
Viral reactivation, potentially severe or life-threatening, can occur in patients treated with drugs directed against B cells. There is no experience with manufacturing AUCATZYL for patients with a positive test for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or with active hepatitis B virus (HBV) or active hepatitis C virus (HCV). Perform screening for HBV, HCV and HIV in accordance with clinical guidelines before collection of cells for manufacturing.

Hypogammaglobulinemia
Hypogammaglobulinemia and B-cell aplasia can occur in patients after AUCATZYL infusion. Hypogammaglobulinemia was reported in 10% (10/100) of patients treated with AUCATZYL including Grade 3 events in 2 patients (2%).
Immunoglobulin levels should be monitored after treatment with AUCATZYL and managed per institutional guidelines including infection precautions, antibiotic or antiviral prophylaxis, and immunoglobulin replacement.
The safety of immunization with live viral vaccines during or following treatment with AUCATZYL has not been studied. Vaccination with live viral vaccines is not recommended for at least 6 weeks prior to the start of lymphodepleting chemotherapy treatment, during AUCATZYL treatment, and until immune recovery following treatment with AUCATZYL.

Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis/Macrophage Activation Syndrome (HLH/MAS)
HLH/MAS including fatal and life-threatening reactions occurred after treatment with AUCATZYL. HLH/MAS was reported in 2% (2/100) of patients and included Grade 3 and Grade 4 events with a time of onset at Day 22 and Day 41, respectively. One patient experienced a concurrent ICANS events after AUCATZYL infusion and died due to sepsis with ongoing HLH/MAS that had not resolved. Administer treatment for HLH/MAS according to institutional standards.

Hypersensitivity Reactions
Serious hypersensitivity reactions, including anaphylaxis, may occur due to dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), an excipient used in AUCATZYL. Observe patients for hypersensitivity reactions during and after AUCATZYL infusion.
Secondary Malignancies
Patients treated with AUCATZYL may develop secondary malignancies. T cell malignancies have occurred following treatment of hematologic malignancies with BCMA- and CD19-directed genetically modified autologous T cell immunotherapies. Mature T cell malignancies, including CAR-positive tumors, may present as soon as weeks following infusion, and may include fatal outcomes. Monitor lifelong for secondary malignancies. In the event that a secondary malignancy occurs, contact Autolus at 1-855-288-5227 for reporting and to obtain instructions on the collection of patient samples for testing.

Adverse Reactions
The safety of AUCATZYL was evaluated in the FELIX study in which 100 patients with relapsed or refractory B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) received AUCATZYL at a median dose of 410 × 10⁶ CD19 CAR-positive viable T cells (range: 10 to 480 × 10⁶ CD19 CAR-positive viable T cells with 90% of patients receiving the recommended dose of 410 × 10⁶ +/- 25%).

The most common serious adverse reactions of any Grade (incidence ≥ 2%) included infections-pathogen unspecified, febrile neutropenia, ICANS, CRS, fever, bacterial infectious disorders, encephalopathy, fungal infections, hemorrhage, respiratory failure, hypotension, ascites, HLH/MAS, thrombosis and hypoxia. Nine patients (9%) experienced fatal adverse reactions which included infections (sepsis, pneumonia, peritonitis), ascites, pulmonary embolism, acute respiratory distress syndrome, HLH/MAS and ICANS. Of the 9 patients, five patients who died from infections had pre-existing and ongoing neutropenia prior to receiving bridging therapy, lymphodepletion chemotherapy treatment and/or AUCATZYL.

Please see full Prescribing Information, including BOXED WARNING and Medication Guide.

Contact:  

Amanda Cray 
+1 617-967-0207 
a.cray@autolus.com 

Olivia Manser 
+44 (0) 7780 471 568 
o.manser@autolus.com 

FAQ

What are the key findings from Autolus Therapeutics' FELIX study of obe-cel in B-ALL patients?

The study showed 40% of responders maintained remission for 3+ years without stem cell therapy, with obe-cel demonstrating effectiveness across age groups and low Grade ≥3 complications.

How effective is obe-cel treatment in older adults with B-ALL?

Obe-cel showed favorable overall remission rates and survival in both age groups (<55 and ≥55 years), with low severe complications, demonstrating effectiveness regardless of patient age.

What factors are associated with better outcomes in obe-cel treatment for B-ALL?

Better outcomes were associated with obe-cel persistence, low disease burden at lymphodepletion, and use of obe-cel in earlier treatment lines.

What did the study reveal about hematotoxicity prediction models for obe-cel treatment?

The ALL-Hematotox model showed better performance in predicting response, survival, and safety outcomes compared to the CAR-Hematotox model for B-ALL patients treated with obe-cel.