Definition

A treatment used for adults with multiple myeloma that came back or did not get better after treatment with at least two lines of anticancer therapy that included an immunomodulating agent, a proteasome inhibitor, and an anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody. Abecma is made using a patient’s T cells (a type of immune system cell). A gene for a special receptor called chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) is added to the T cells in the laboratory. These changed T cells called CAR T cells are grown in large numbers in the laboratory and given to the patient by infusion. Abecma binds to a protein called BCMA, which is found on myeloma cells and some types of immune cells. This helps the body’s immune system kill cancer cells. Abecma is a type of cellular immunotherapy called CAR T-cell therapy. Also called idecabtagene vicleucel.