Highlighting Progress in Autologous CAR T-Cell Therapy for MCL

In this interview, Michael Wang, MD, comments on ATALANTA-1 trial data presented at ASH 2025. He highlights the trial’s exceptional efficacy, with a 100% overall response rate and complete responses observed in up to 89% of treated patients. These outcomes underscore the therapy’s strong antitumor activity, particularly when paired with encouraging durability of response.

A major distinguishing feature of the ATALANTA-1 product is its rapid manufacturing process. The reported vein-to-vein time of approximately 7 days represents a substantial improvement over conventional autologous CAR T therapies, which typically require 2 to 3 weeks for cell production. This shortened timeline is clinically meaningful, especially for patients with aggressive disease who may not tolerate extended delays.

Wang places the ATALANTA-1 findings within the broader context of CAR T-cell development, where significant interest has shifted toward allogeneic, “off-the-shelf” products designed to reduce cost and logistical complexity. However, he cautions that, despite their promise, allogeneic CAR T-cell therapies have not yet matched the efficacy or durability achieved with autologous approaches. In his view, ATALANTA-1 represents a fast, highly effective autologous CAR T therapy.

Wang also acknowledges emerging platforms such as CAR NK cells and in vivo CAR T technologies but notes these remain investigational. Overall, the ATALANTA-1 data reinforce that optimized autologous CAR T therapy continues to set the standard as cellular therapy rapidly evolves.