Abecma
idecabtagene vicleucel · BCMA CAR-TNo single or repeat-dose in vivo toxicity studies; no appropriate animal model for autologous human CAR-T cells
Spherox: what flexibility did regulators accept, and why?
spheroids of autologous matrix-associated chondrocytes · Autologous chondrocyte spheroids
Flexibility accepted
Study lengthCriticised but acceptedBeyond the letter
No long-term toxicity data: pivotal 9-month GLP sheep study failed through loss of the implants
“The long term effects of the Spherox product cannot be fully evaluated from the in vivo data as the GLP compliant sheep study of 9 months duration failed due to loss of Spherox implants.”
“The lack of non-clinical data on local and general toxicity after long-term exposure to autologous spheroids is considered acceptable.”
GLPCriticised but acceptedBeyond the letter
Supporting mouse and minipig safety studies non-GLP, with low animal numbers and limited duration
Why: Collectively the studies supported good tolerability of implanted spheroids · Weight of evidence
“There were some deficiencies in the experimental design which hamper the evaluation of safety of the individual studies, e.g. low numbers of treated animals, lack of GLP-compliance and limited study duration to allow long term safety assessment, but collectively they provided good support that implanted chondrocyte spheroids are well tolerated.”
BiodistributionCriticised but acceptedBeyond the letter
Deficient biodistribution data; no pivotal data from the failed sheep study
Why: Rapid adherence to the defect surface; no tendency for ectopic cartilage formation; low migration risk · Weight of evidence
“Despite the deficiencies of the biodistribution studies the in vitro and in vivo studies have shown that spheroid show rapid adherence to the defect surface and do not shown tendency for ectopic cartilage formation.”
“CAT/CHMP that the risk for migration/infiltration is low and that additional non-clinical biodistribution studies are not called for.”
DARTAccepted
No reproductive and developmental toxicity studies
Why: Autologous cells with local mechanism of action and limited biodistribution, per cell-based product guideline · Within the guideline · Low-risk modality
“In line with guidelines on cell-based medicinal products (EMEA/CHMP/410869/2006), the applicant has provided an acceptable justification for omitting these studies: Spherox contains autologous cells with a local mechanism of action, and the risk for biodistribution of cells is limited.”
Same question, other cell therapies
Alofisel
darvadstrocel · Allogeneic adipose MSCNo reproductive and developmental toxicity studies
Amtagvi
lifileucel · TIL therapyNo nonclinical pharmacology studies with the product; published data on similar murine and human tumor-derived T lymphocytes cited instead
Aucatzyl
obecabtagene autoleucel · CD19 CAR-TNo general toxicity studies; no pharmacologically relevant species for human CAR T cells
Breyanzi
lisocabtagene maraleucel · CD19 CAR-TNo pharmacologically relevant species; no conventional single- or repeat-dose toxicity, local tolerance or other traditional studies
Carvykti
ciltacabtagene autoleucel · BCMA CAR-TNo GLP-compliant formal toxicology studies and no repeat-dose study; no relevant animal species
ChondroCelect
characterised viable autologous cartilage cells · Autologous chondrocytesAll nonclinical studies non-GLP, run as combined pharmacodynamic/distribution/toxicity studies in nude mice, sheep and goats
Ebvallo
tabelecleucel · EBV-specific allogeneic T cellsNo single- or repeat-dose toxicity studies; no relevant animal model for an HLA-restricted human T-cell product
Encelto
revakinagene taroretcel · CNTF (encapsulated RPE cell implant)No carcinogenicity/tumorigenicity studies; waived on toxicological risk assessments of rhCNTF and residual medium
Gintuit
allogeneic cultured keratinocytes and fibroblasts in bovine collagen · Allogeneic keratinocytes + fibroblastsICH toxicology package (chronic toxicity, genotoxicity, carcinogenicity, DART, safety pharmacology, immunotoxicity) not conducted; partly covered by device biocompatibility testing
Holoclar
autologous corneal epithelial cells containing limbal stem cells · Autologous limbal stem cellsNo in vivo toxicity studies (single dose, repeat dose, immunogenicity); no suitable animal model
Kymriah
tisagenlecleucel · CD19 CAR-TNo single-dose or standard toxicity studies: patient-specific human cell product cannot be given to immunocompetent animals
Lantidra
donislecel · Allogeneic pancreatic isletsNo nonclinical studies with the product; published islet-transplant literature in rodents and monkeys relied on instead
Laviv
azficel-T · Autologous fibroblastsNo preclinical studies of any kind with the product; relied on prior commercial human use and published literature
MACI
autologous cultured chondrocytes on porcine collagen membrane · Autologous chondrocytesNo carcinogenicity/tumorigenicity studies
Omisirge
omidubicel · Expanded cord blood HPCIn vivo studies described as GLP lacked QA statements, facility information and deviation reports
Provenge
sipuleucel-T · PAP-GM-CSF (autologous APC)No conventional toxicology or pharmacokinetic studies; risk-based approach justification instead
Rethymic
allogeneic processed thymus tissue · Allogeneic thymus tissueNo nonclinical toxicology studies: no relevant animal species or model
Ryoncil
remestemcel-L · Allogeneic BM-MSCNonclinical studies used surrogate animal-derived MSC and human MSC from an early manufacturing process, not the commercial product
StrataGraft
allogeneic cultured keratinocytes and dermal fibroblasts in murine collagen · Allogeneic keratinocytes + fibroblastsToxicity assessed only in immunodeficient mice, with significant study design and data limitations
Tecartus
brexucabtagene autoleucel · CD19 CAR-TNo relevant animal model; no GLP formal toxicology studies, only safety observations in a syngeneic mouse surrogate model
Tecelra
afamitresgene autoleucel · MAGE-A4 TCR-TNo in vivo single- or repeat-dose toxicity studies; no appropriate animal model for human TCR-engineered T cells
Tregzi
allogeneic Treg immunotherapy with HSPC and T cells (Orca-T) · Allogeneic Treg + HSPC + TconNo nonclinical toxicology studies; safety supported by clinical data with a similar cell product
Yescarta
axicabtagene ciloleucel · CD19 CAR-TNo toxicology studies with the product; no relevant animal model, murine surrogate CAR-T used for pharmacology
Zalmoxis
allogeneic T cells modified with HSV-TK / dLNGFR (nalotimagene carmaleucel) · HSV-TK suicide-gene T cellsNo conventional toxicology studies; safety read from two immunodeficient-mouse GvHD pharmacology models
Zemcelpro
dorocubicel · UM171-expanded cord blood CD34+UM171 toxicity studies in rats (single dose) and monkeys (three doses) not GLP-compliant