Updated results from a phase 2 trial (NCT05801939) show promising outcomes for cevostamab as a consolidation therapy following BCMA CAR T-cell treatment in patients with multiple myeloma. Among 27 treated patients, 63% had achieved a complete response (CR) or stringent CR before receiving cevostamab. This increased to 81% by cycle 8, day 1, and 93% one year after CAR T-cell therapy.
Minimal-residual disease (MRD) negativity was similarly high: 100% at enrollment, 95% at cycle 8, day 1, and 93% at the one-year mark. Seven patients remain on treatment.
Presented by Adam Cohen, MD, at the 2025 American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting, the trial explored whether cevostamab consolidation could boost CAR T-cell effectiveness by:
Reinvigorating persistent CAR-positive T cells against BCMA-positive myeloma,
Eliminating residual BCMA-low or BCMA-negative myeloma cells by redirecting endogenous T cells to FcRH5, and
Increasing sustained MRD negativity and overall response duration.
Cohen, director of Myeloma Immunotherapy and associate professor of Medicine at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, explained to CancerNetwork® that targeting two antigens may improve outcomes compared with single-antigen therapies.
“The advantage of hitting two targets is that while CAR T cells attack BCMA, cevostamab targets FcRH5,” Cohen said. “This reduces the chance that myeloma cells escape. BCMA loss or downregulation can allow residual cells to evade CAR T-cell surveillance. By targeting a second antigen, we may eliminate BCMA-negative or low-expressing cells, enhancing treatment durability. Data from other CAR and bispecific trials suggest that dual targeting may be more effective than single-antigen approaches.”
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