Phase 1 Study of Anito-cel, a d-Domain BCMA CAR T Cell for Refractory or Recurrent Myeloma

A phase 1 trial published in NEJM tested anito-cel (anitocabtagene autoleucel), a CAR T-cell therapy targeting BCMA that uses a compact, fully synthetic d-domain binder instead of the conventional antibody-derived scFv, in patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma. The d-domain design is intended to reduce immunogenicity and tonic signalling, and may lower the risk of the delayed neurotoxicity seen with earlier BCMA CAR T products. As an early-phase, single-arm study it establishes safety, dosing and preliminary response signals rather than comparative efficacy, and confirmatory randomised data will be needed before any change in practice. Full response and toxicity figures are reported in the NEJM article (Volume 395, Issue 12, pages 1180-1192).