NT-I7 (Efineptakin Alfa), a Long-acting Human IL-7, Post-Axicabtagene Ciloleucel or Post-Lisocabtagene Maraleucel in Subjects With Relapsed/Refractory Large B-cell Lymphoma

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma is the most commonly occurring subtype of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, but treatment is often not curative, with as many as 50% of patients with adverse risk factors developing relapsed/refractory disease. CAR T-cell therapy has revolutionized modern cancer therapy, with axicabtagene ciloleucel and lisocabtagene maraleucel (anti-CD19 CAR T-cell therapies) FDA approved for second- or later-line treatment of relapsed/refractory large B-cell lymphoma. IL-7 plays a crucial role in T-cell homeostasis by inducing thymic differentiation, peripheral expansion, and extrathymic differentiation. It is the main regulator of T-cell hemostasis, inducing T-cell growth and proliferation in lymphopenic patients. There is data that suggests that exposure of T-cells to IL-7 may expand T-cells, prevent T-cell exhaustion, and improve effector functions. NT-I7 is a long-acting human IL-7 cytokine which has been shown in nonclinical studies to increase peripheral T-cells, antitumor efficacy, and tumor infiltrating lymphocytes, either as a monotherapy or in combination with chemo/radiotherapy and/or immune checkpoint inhibitors and CAR T therapy. This study is testing the hypothesis that the administration of NT-I7 following standard of care (SOC) approved CD19 CAR T-cell therapies for subjects with relapsed/refractory large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL) will be safe and tolerable and may increase the expansion and persistence of CAR T-cells in vivo, which may result in increased tumor response rate and improved clinical outcomes.