BCMA/CD19 CAR T Shows Encouraging Results in R/R Multiple Myeloma

In a conversation with CancerNetwork^® at the 2026 Tandem Meetings, Shambavi Richard, MD, spoke about the phase 1b/2 DURGA-1 trial (NCT05850234) evaluating AZD0120, a first-in-class BCMA/CD19 dual-targeting cellular therapy, among patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma. According to findings that she presented at meeting, AZD0120 demonstrated early and deep responses in a heavily pretreated population of patients.

Richard, associate professor of medicine (Hematology and Medical Oncology) with the Center of Excellence for Multiple Myeloma at Mount Sinai, outlined the rationale for targeting CD19 and BCMA simultaneously with this investigational therapy. She described how the novel agent can be produced in a few days compared with the lengthier manufacturing processes associated with other CAR T-cell therapy products, noting her “encouragement” based on preliminary efficacy and safety findings from the phase 1b/2 trial.

Transcript:

AZD0120 is a dual-targeted CAR T targeting 2 antigens. [First is] BCMA, which is very common and the most common antigen that is targeted in myeloma [via] CAR T cells of various T-cell–directed therapies. CD19, on the other hand, is much less common in myeloma. It’s usually expressed in most phases of B cell development and is lower intensity on some subsets of myeloma cells and progenitor cells. The hypothesis behind putting these 2 antigens together in this dual CAR T product was that we know that myeloma tends to be very clonally heterogeneous, and it’s an attempt to reduce the risk of antigen-negative relapses. Also, the hypothesis was that we are maybe targeting a myeloma stem cell, so to speak; a progenitor to myeloma cells. There have been, in fact, in vitro studies that show that this combination seems to target more myeloma cells than either CAR T product individually.

This was the main reason for using this combination. The other thing with this product is that it uses a fast CAR manufacturing technology. While traditional manufacturing can take several weeks for the CAR T cells to be made, this particular one results in a fast turnaround with CAR T cells being manufactured in [fewer] than 3 days.

I’m encouraged that this product is showing good toxicity and efficacy. I would hope that we are able to accrue quickly to these clinical trials because initial impressions are a good start, but we need more patients and longer follow-up to see if this is indeed a CAR T product that may be preferentially used if patients have multiple options. We would like to see additional data and longer-term follow-up data, both for efficacy and safety.

Reference

Richard S, Gaballa M, Gregory T, et al. Safety and efficacy of AZD0120, a BCMA/CD19 dual-targeting CAR T-cell therapy, in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma: preliminary results from the DURGA-1 phase 1b/2 study. Abstract presented at: 2026 Transplantation & Cellular Therapy Meetings of American Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy and Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research; February 4-7, 2026; Salt Lake City, UT. Abstract 37.