The FDA has granted Fast Track designation to CMD-003 for patients with relapsed/refractory lymphoma and post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease associated with the oncogenic Epstein-Barr virus (EBV).
CMD-003, also known as baltaleucel-T, is an investigational therapy in which the patient's T cells are activated to kill malignant cells expressing EBV antigens. It has the potential to address a range of EBV-associated lymphomas, nasopharyngeal carcinoma, and gastric cancer.
CMD-003 is currently being investigated in the international, open label phase II CITADEL clinical trial for patients with extranodal natural killer T-cell lymphoma, a type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. A phase II CIVIC clinical trial has also been opened to explore the potential benefits of CMD-003 for patients with EBV-associated diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, Hodgkin lymphoma, and post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease.
The FDA's Fast Track is a process designed to facilitate the development and to expedite the review of drugs to treat serious conditions and fill an unmet medical need. The FDA will take appropriate actions to advance the development and review of the application for approval of such a product. FDA Fast Track status also allows for more frequent interactions with the FDA review team and a rolling Biologics License Application for earlier review.