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Zemcelpro: what flexibility did regulators accept, and why?

dorocubicel · UM171-expanded cord blood CD34+
Flexibility accepted
GLPAcceptedBeyond the letter
UM171 toxicity studies in rats (single dose) and monkeys (three doses) not GLP-compliant
Why: Weight-of-evidence approach; no further questions raised · Weight of evidence
“The single dose toxicity study in rats and the “repeat dose toxicity study” (3x administration with a 7- day washout period) in non-human primates were not in accordance with GLP.”
✓ VerifiedEMA assessment report, p. 45Source ↗
“Based on a 'weight of evidence approach,' it is therefore not deemed relevant to raise questions about this and the submitted discussion is considered sufficient.”
✓ VerifiedEMA assessment report, p. 45Source ↗
GLPAcceptedBeyond the letter
hERG assay with residual UM171 not GLP-compliant
Why: Anticipated residual UM171 level in the product (8 ng/kg) is negligible · Pharmacology or kinetics
“According to ICH S7A and B, safety PD studies such as the hERG assay should be performed in compliance with GLP. However, the study was not GLP compliant.”
✓ VerifiedEMA assessment report, p. 31Source ↗
“However, since the anticipated residual UM171 level in dorocubicel (8 ng/kg for a 70 kg adult) is negligible, the lack of GLP compliance is considered acceptable.”
✓ VerifiedEMA assessment report, p. 31Source ↗
DARTAcceptedBeyond the letter
No reproductive and developmental toxicity studies with UM171 or the cell product
Why: Not recommended in pregnancy; only minimal residual UM171 in the product · Pharmacology or kinetics
“The applicant contended that such studies are unnecessary as ECT-001-CB is not recommended for use in pregnant women, and only minimal residual amounts of UM 171 were detected in dorocubicel. The absence of such studies is considered acceptable.”
✓ VerifiedEMA assessment report, p. 47Source ↗
Efficacy modelCriticised but acceptedBeyond the letter
Manufacturing culture conditions with UM171 not fully substantiated with nonclinical data
Why: No concerns based on submitted clinical data; long-term safety and efficacy followed post-marketing · Human data
“Moreover, adaptations in the production process related to culture of the cells with UM171 have not been fully substantiated with thorough non-clinical data. Based on the submitted clinical data, there are no concerns.”
✓ VerifiedEMA assessment report, p. 48Source ↗
“However, long term safety and efficacy will be followed up in the post-marketing studies.”
✓ VerifiedEMA assessment report, p. 48Source ↗

Same question, other cell therapies

Abecma

idecabtagene vicleucel · BCMA CAR-T
No single or repeat-dose in vivo toxicity studies; no appropriate animal model for autologous human CAR-T cells

Alofisel

darvadstrocel · Allogeneic adipose MSC
No reproductive and developmental toxicity studies

Amtagvi

lifileucel · TIL therapy
No nonclinical pharmacology studies with the product; published data on similar murine and human tumor-derived T lymphocytes cited instead

Aucatzyl

obecabtagene autoleucel · CD19 CAR-T
No general toxicity studies; no pharmacologically relevant species for human CAR T cells

Breyanzi

lisocabtagene maraleucel · CD19 CAR-T
No pharmacologically relevant species; no conventional single- or repeat-dose toxicity, local tolerance or other traditional studies

Carvykti

ciltacabtagene autoleucel · BCMA CAR-T
No GLP-compliant formal toxicology studies and no repeat-dose study; no relevant animal species

ChondroCelect

characterised viable autologous cartilage cells · Autologous chondrocytes
All nonclinical studies non-GLP, run as combined pharmacodynamic/distribution/toxicity studies in nude mice, sheep and goats

Ebvallo

tabelecleucel · EBV-specific allogeneic T cells
No 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 + fibroblasts
ICH 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 cells
No in vivo toxicity studies (single dose, repeat dose, immunogenicity); no suitable animal model

Kymriah

tisagenlecleucel · CD19 CAR-T
No single-dose or standard toxicity studies: patient-specific human cell product cannot be given to immunocompetent animals

Lantidra

donislecel · Allogeneic pancreatic islets
No nonclinical studies with the product; published islet-transplant literature in rodents and monkeys relied on instead

Laviv

azficel-T · Autologous fibroblasts
No 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 chondrocytes
No carcinogenicity/tumorigenicity studies

Omisirge

omidubicel · Expanded cord blood HPC
In 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 tissue
No nonclinical toxicology studies: no relevant animal species or model

Ryoncil

remestemcel-L · Allogeneic BM-MSC
Nonclinical studies used surrogate animal-derived MSC and human MSC from an early manufacturing process, not the commercial product

Spherox

spheroids of autologous matrix-associated chondrocytes · Autologous chondrocyte spheroids
No long-term toxicity data: pivotal 9-month GLP sheep study failed through loss of the implants

StrataGraft

allogeneic cultured keratinocytes and dermal fibroblasts in murine collagen · Allogeneic keratinocytes + fibroblasts
Toxicity assessed only in immunodeficient mice, with significant study design and data limitations

Tecartus

brexucabtagene autoleucel · CD19 CAR-T
No relevant animal model; no GLP formal toxicology studies, only safety observations in a syngeneic mouse surrogate model

Tecelra

afamitresgene autoleucel · MAGE-A4 TCR-T
No 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 + Tcon
No nonclinical toxicology studies; safety supported by clinical data with a similar cell product

Yescarta

axicabtagene ciloleucel · CD19 CAR-T
No 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 cells
No conventional toxicology studies; safety read from two immunodeficient-mouse GvHD pharmacology models

Summary across all 27 cell therapies →