ASH: Novartis makes its Kymriah case in follicular lymphoma, but another Gilead showdown awaits

Novartis is gunning for its third indication for CAR-T drug Kymriah, and Saturday it posted new data that it thinks can win over regulators. But by the time it can hit the market, it may have to face down a familiar foe in Gilead’s Yescarta.

In phase 2 study results presented Saturday at the American Society of Hematology (ASH) virtual annual meeting, Kymriah showed it could erase all signs of cancer in 65% of previously treated follicular lymphoma (FL) patients and spur a response in 83%.