Overview

This research study involves assessing the impact of emapalumab as preventative management of CAR-T related cytokine release syndrome in participants with Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL).

The research study involves the following study interventions:

• Fludarabine and cyclophosphamide (Lymphodepleting Chemotherapy)
• Axicabtagene Ciloleucel
• Emapalumab

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• Adult patients with large B-cell lymphoma that is refractory to first-line chemoimmunotherapy or that relapses within 12 months of first-line chemoimmunotherapy. Or adult patients with relapsed or refractory large B-cell lymphoma after two or more lines of systemic therapy, including diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) not otherwise specified, primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma, high grade B-cell lymphoma, and DLBCL arising from follicular lymphoma.
• At least 1 measurable lesion per Lugano at time of screening.
• At least 2 weeks or 5 half-lives, whichever is shorter, must have elapsed since any prior systemic therapy at the time the subject is planned for leukapheresis, except for systemic inhibitory/stimulatory immune checkpoint therapy however steroids only require a 7-day washout.
• At least 3 half-lives must have elapsed from any prior systemic inhibitory/stimulatory immune checkpoint molecule therapy at the time the subject is planned for leukapheresis (e.g. ipilimumab, nivolumab, pembrolizumab, atezolizumab, OX40 agonists, 4-1BB agonists, etc).
• Age 18 or older
• Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0 to 2.
• Adequate renal, hepatic, pulmonary and cardiac function defined as:
  • ANC ≥1000/uL
  • Platelet count ≥50,000/uL
  • Absolute lymphocyte count ≥100/uL
  • Creatinine clearance (as estimated by Cockcroft Gault or CKD-EPI) ≥ 30 mL/min
  • Serum ALT/AST ≤2.5 per institutional ULN
  • Total bilirubin ≤1.5 mg/dl, except in subjects with Gilbert's syndrome.
  • Cardiac ejection fraction ≥ 40%, no clinically significant pericardial effusion, and no clinically significant ECG findings
  • Baseline oxygen saturation >92% on room air.
• Females of childbearing potential must have a negative serum or urine pregnancy test

  (females who have undergone surgical sterilization or who have been postmenopausal for at least 2 years are not considered to be of childbearing potential).

• Ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document.

Exclusion Criteria:

• History of malignancy other than nonmelanoma skin cancer or carcinoma in situ (e.g. cervix, bladder, breast) or follicular lymphoma unless disease free for at least 3 years.
• History of Richter's transformation of CLL.
• Autologous stem cell transplant within 6 weeks of planned axicabtagene ciloleucel infusion.
• History of allogeneic stem cell transplantation.
• Presence of uncontrolled fungal, bacterial, viral, or other infection at time of screening.
• Known history of acute or chronic active hepatitis B or C infection. Subjects with history of hepatitis infection must have cleared their infection as determined by standard serological and genetic testing per current Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) guidelines.
  • Patients should also be negative for latent Tb, CMV (NAT), EBV (NAT) and adenovirus (NAT) by PCR testing.
• No evidence of active CNS disease regardless of prior CNS history.
• History or presence of CNS disorder such as seizure disorder, cerebrovascular ischemia/hemorrhage within 6 months of enrollment.
• History of myocardial infarction, cardiac angioplasty or stenting, unstable angina, or other clinically significant cardiac disease within 12 months of enrollment.
• History of symptomatic pulmonary embolism within 3 months of enrollment; ongoing anticoagulation is allowed if beyond 3 months.
• Any medical condition likely to interfere with assessment of safety or efficacy of study treatment.
• History of allergic reactions or severe immediate hypersensitivity reaction to any of the agents used in this study or compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition.
• Females who are pregnant or breastfeeding or female or male participants who are not willing to practice birth control from the time of consent through 6 months after the completion of axicabtagene ciloleucel
• In the investigators judgment, the subject is unlikely to complete all protocol-required study visits or procedures, including follow-up visits, or comply with the study requirements for participation.
• History of autoimmune disease requiring ongoing systemic immunosuppression. Steroids are allowed up to 5mg predinosine-equivalent for adrenal insufficiency.
• Patients anticipated to require canakinumab, JAK inhibitors, TNF inhibitors, and tocilizumab for non-CAR-T management of baseline autoimmune/inflammatory disease at the time of emapalumab initiation.
• Receipt of a BCG vaccine within 12 weeks prior to Screening.
• Receipt of a live or attenuated live (other than BCG) vaccine within 4 weeks prior to screeing.
• Participants who are receiving any other investigational agents for this condition.