BAFF-R Therapy Shows Durability in Refractory Lymphoma Trials

The study, conducted by Irvine-based PeproMene Bio at City of Hope, underscores a potential breakthrough for patients who have exhausted conventional options, including those who failed prior CD19-directed CAR T-cell treatments. Among the cohort, four of six patients who had progressed after existing therapies successfully responded to the BAFF-R-targeted approach. Beyond efficacy, the treatment demonstrated a distinct safety profile, with all reported cytokine release syndrome and neurotoxicity events limited to Grade 1 severity.

This favorable safety data suggests that future iterations of the therapy could potentially transition to outpatient settings, significantly widening patient access. Following these results, the clinical trial has expanded from its initial site at City of Hope to multiple medical centers across the United States. The first patient enrolled in this expansion phase, presenting with high-grade B-cell lymphoma, has already achieved a complete response. With $11 million in backing from the Institute for Follicular Lymphoma Innovation, development is now accelerating, with researchers eyeing further applications in treating autoimmune conditions where B-cell depletion is required.