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BCMA-targeted T-cell engager therapy induces sustained remission in immune thrombocytopenia

Authors

  • Michael Korenkov
  • Maximilian Rudolf Zuleeg
  • Julian Liebaert
  • Vincent Fregona
  • Sebastian Serve
  • Julia Jesse
  • Stephan Rainer Böckle
  • Stephan Rainer Bohl
  • Frederik Damm
  • Ulrich Bullinger
  • Ulrich Keller
  • Adrian Busse
  • Adrian Schwarzer
  • Fredrik Albach
  • Thomas Thiele
  • Simon Haas
  • Jan Krönke
  • Marie Luise Hütter-Krönke

Journal

  • Blood Immunology & Cellular Therapy

Citation

  • Blood Immunol Cell Ther 2 (3): 100062

Abstract

  • Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is an autoimmune disease mediated by platelet-reactive antibodies, leading to accelerated platelet clearance and an increased risk of bleeding. Despite multiple available therapeutic options, durable treatment-free remissions remain uncommon in patients with refractory disease. Here, we report 3 patients with multidrug refractory ITP treated with a bispecific B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA)–targeting T-cell engager, teclistamab, approved for the treatment of multiple myeloma. Fixed-duration teclistamab therapy–induced platelet response within 4, 9, and 23 days, which was sustained after treatment discontinuation. The entirety of ITP-directed therapies was tapered and discontinued, and the 3 patients remain in treatment-free remission for 8, 6, and 3 months, respectively. Responses were associated with rapid depletion of B cells and plasma cells. Toxicity was manageable and largely limited to low-grade cytokine release syndrome, transient neutropenia, and infections that were readily controlled. These observations highlight BCMA-directed bispecific antibodies as a potential therapeutic strategy in autoimmune hematologic diseases and provide a rationale for prospective clinical trials.


DOI

doi:10.1016/j.bict.2026.100062