Real-world outcomes of axi-cel

Dr Allison Winter presented at ICML 2025 data that highlight a collaboration between KITE and the CIBMTR data registry, examining the outcomes of axicabtagene ciloleucel (axi-cel) for the treatment of patients with Richter’s transformation to large B-cell lymphoma (Richter). Richter is an aggressive form of lymphoma that arises from chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL), and historically, patients with this condition have had poor outcomes, with median overall survival often reported as low as five months, especially for clonally related Richter.

This study evaluates real-world data from 91 adult patients treated with axi-cel for Richter, with more than half of the patients being over 65 years old. Almost half of the patients had received prior therapies for CLL, including venetoclax and BTK inhibitors. Over 80% of the patients had advanced-stage disease at the time of Richter’s transformation. The results show an overall response rate of 68%, with 53% achieving a complete response. Notably, the responses were durable, and landmark analyses for PFS and OS at 12 months showed prolonged survival for those who reached these milestones.

Despite being a retrospective analysis, the data indicate that axi-cel provides favourable outcomes for patients with Richter’s transformation, a population that has historically had limited treatment options and a poor prognosis. The safety profile of axi-cel in this cohort was similar to that seen in other subsets of large B-cell lymphoma.

This suggests that axi-cel may offer a viable treatment option for patients with Richter’s transformation.