Off-the-Shelf CAR t cells take on tough lymphomas and leukemias
NCT ID NCT03666000
First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Sep 09, 2026 · Updated 3 times
Summary
This early-phase trial is testing a new type of CAR T cell therapy called Azer-cel, which is made from healthy donor cells rather than the patient's own cells. It aims to treat adults with relapsed or refractory non-Hodgkin lymphoma, B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and related blood cancers. Participants receive the donor CAR T cells along with chemotherapy and IL-2 to see if the treatment is safe and can shrink tumors.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Azer-cel (azercabtagene zapreleucel), a donor-derived CAR T cell therapy targeting CD19, given with chemotherapy (fludarabine, cyclophosphamide) and IL-2
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could provide a readily available, off-the-shelf cell therapy option for patients with hard-to-treat blood cancers who have run out of other treatments.
- What could go wrong
- This is an early (Phase 1) trial with a small number of participants, so safety and effectiveness are not yet proven. CAR T therapies can cause serious side effects like cytokine release syndrome and neurological problems.
Why investors are watching
Imugene is testing azer-cel, an allogeneic CAR T therapy, in patients with relapsed or refractory non-Hodgkin lymphoma and B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. For a micro-cap company, this early-stage readout on safety and clinical activity is a major value driver, as a positive signal could validate its pipeline and attract partnership interest.
If it works: A positive result could show that azer-cel is safe and active in hard-to-treat blood cancers, potentially advancing the drug to later trials and increasing the company's credibility with investors and partners.
If it fails: Phase 1 trials often fail to show sufficient safety or efficacy, and a poor result or delay could hurt the company's prospects. Since Imugene is very small, a setback here could have an outsized negative impact on its value.
AI-written from the trial record. Speculative, and not investment advice.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Phase 1
The first testing in people. Mainly checks safety and dose, usually in a small group.
- Participants
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About 135 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Started
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Mar 2019
- Expected to finish
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Jun 2027
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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A company
The lead sponsor is a pharmaceutical, biotech, or medical-device company.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 years and older
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Key Inclusion Criteria Criteria for B-ALL: • Participant has confirmed unequivocal r/r CD19+ B-ALL. Criteria for NHL and CLL/SLL: • Participant has unequivocal aggressive CD19+ r/r B-cell NHL that is confirmed by tumor biopsy tissue from last relapse after CD19-directed therapy. For Phase 1 Dose Escalation: * Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) including Richter's transformation * Follicular lymphoma (FL) including Grade 3 or transformed FL * High-grade B-cell lymphoma (HGBCL) * Primary mediastinal lymphoma For Phase 1b Dose Expansion (CAR T-relapsed cohort): * DLBCL not otherwise specified (NOS) * HGBCL * DLBCL transformed from the following indolent lymphoma subtypes (FL, Marginal Zone lymphoma \[MZL\], and Waldenstrom's Macroglobulinemia \[WM\]) * Other large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL) subtypes may be enrolled with approval from the Medical Monitor. * Participants previously treated with CD19-directed autologous CAR T therapies have received no more than 2 lines of therapy after administration of their previous CAR T product. * For the expansion CAR T-relapsed cohort only: Participants must have received autologous CD19-directed CAR T therapy and demonstrated clinical response to the treatment at Day 28 or later, followed by relapse or progression. For Phase 1b dose expansion (CAR T-naive cohort and Con-BTKi cohort): For indication with an approved autologous CAR T-cell therapy, participants must be ineligible for or unable to access autologous CAR T-cell therapy. * DLBCL NOS * DLBCL transformed from the following indolent lymphoma subtypes (FL, MZL, and WM) * HGBCL * FL (Grade 1-3a) * MZL that is fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-avid on positron emission tomography (PET) scan * WM * CLL/SLL * Primary central nervous system (CNS) lymphoma (PCNSL) * Other LBCL subtypes may be enrolled with approval from the Medical Monitor. * Participant must have received at least 1-2 prior lines of therapy, depending on histological subtype but no more than 7 systemic lines of anti-cancer therapy. Participants enrolling into the Con-BTKi cohort must: * Be receiving a BTKi (as a monotherapy or combination therapy) as the last, systemic anti-cancer regimen before study entry. Alternatively, if previously refractory to one or more BTK inhibitor(s) and the last systemic anti-cancer therapy before study entry did not include a BTKi, one of the previous BTK inhibitors may be used. * Have radiologic or clinical disease progression while on the BTKi * Agree to remain on BTKi therapy during the protocol-defined BTKi treatment window * Have been tolerant to BTKi therapy Criteria for both B-ALL, NHL, and CLL/SLL: * Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status score of 0 or 1. * An estimated life expectancy of at least 12 weeks according to the investigator's judgment. * Seronegative for human immunodeficiency virus antibody. * Participant has adequate bone marrow, renal, hepatic, pulmonary, and cardiac function. Key Exclusion Criteria Criteria for B-ALL: • Burkitt cell (L3 ALL) or mixed-lineage acute leukemia. Criteria for NHL: * Requirement for urgent therapy due to tumor mass effects such as bowel obstruction or blood vessel compression. * Active hemolytic anemia. Criteria for B-ALL and NHL: * No active CNS disease, excluding PCNSL * History of another primary malignancy * Any form of primary immunodeficiency (for example, severe combined immunodeficiency disease). * History of hepatitis B or hepatitis C currently receiving ongoing antiviral therapy. Any known uncontrolled cardiovascular disease at the time of Screening that, in the investigator's opinion, renders the participant ineligible * History of hypertension crisis or hypertensive encephalopathy within 3 months prior to Screening. * History of severe immediate hypersensitivity reaction to any of the agents used in this study. * Presence of a CNS disorder that, in the opinion of the investigator, renders the participant ineligible for treatment. * History of concomitant genetic syndrome such as Fanconi anemia, Kostmann syndrome, Shwachman-Diamond syndrome, or any other known bone marrow failure syndrome. * Active uncontrolled autoimmune disease requiring active immunosuppression at the time of Screening (excluding participants needing steroids for physiologic replacement). * Participant has received stem cell transplant within 90 days before Screening. * Participant has active graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) symptoms. * Participant has received a systemic biologic agent for treatment of the disease under study within 28 days of LD, other systemic anti-cancer therapy within 10 days or 5 half-lives (whichever is shorter) of LD, and no pulse steroid for disease control within 3 days of LD. * Radiotherapy within 4 weeks before Screening. * Presence of pleural/peritoneal/pericardial catheter, as well as permeant biliary and ureteral stents (does not apply to intravenous lines). * Participant has received live vaccine within 4 weeks before Screening. Note: Non-live virus vaccines are not excluded. * Participant has received CD19-directed therapy other than autologous CD19-directed CAR T therapy within 90 days of the anticipated start date of LD. Additional criteria apply.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
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The study's own enquiry address
This study publishes an address for enquiries. See it below .
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The places running it
15 sites in 2 countries. The list below names each one and where it is.
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The official record
ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.
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A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.
Contacts and locations
Show contact details
Enter your email to view the contact information for this study.
Genom att skicka in godkänner du våra Användarvillkor
Study contacts
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Contact
Email: •••••@•••••
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Contact
Email: •••••@•••••
Locations
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Barwon Health - Andrew Love Cancer Centre
RECRUITINGGeelong, Victoria, 3320, Australia
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Baylor University Medical Center
RECRUITINGDallas, Texas, 75246, United States
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Columbia University Irving Medical Center/New York Presbyterian Hospital
RECRUITINGNew York, New York, 10032, United States
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H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center
RECRUITINGTampa, Florida, 33612, United States
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Lifespan Cancer Institute at Rhode Island Hospital
RECRUITINGProvidence, Rhode Island, 02903, United States
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Liverpool Hospital
RECRUITINGLiverpool, New South Wales, 2170, Australia
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Medical College of Wisconsin
RECRUITINGMilwaukee, Wisconsin, 53226, United States
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Northside Hospital Cancer Institute
RECRUITINGAtlanta, Georgia, 30342, United States
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Royal Adelaide Hospital
RECRUITINGAdelaide, South Australia, 5000, Australia
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Royal Prince Alfred Hospital
RECRUITINGCamperdown, New South Wales, 2050, Australia
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St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne
RECRUITINGFitzroy, Victoria, 3065, Australia
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Tufts Medical Center
RECRUITINGBoston, Massachusetts, 02111, United States
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University of Maryland
RECRUITINGBaltimore, Maryland, 21201, United States
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University of Minnesota
RECRUITINGMinneapolis, Minnesota, 55455, United States
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Winship Cancer Institute Emory University
RECRUITINGAtlanta, Georgia, 30322, United States
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