This Phase 1, single centre, open label dose escalation study aims to identify a safe dose of third-generation anti-CD19 CAR T-cells (WZTL-002) in the treatment of patients with relapsed or refractory (r/r) B-cell Non Hodgkin Lymphoma, for use in further efficacy trials. An expansion cohort will assess automated closed-system manufacture of WZTL-002 and outpatient management of participants.

This is a Phase 1 study, designed to evaluate the safety, feasibility, efficacy and kinetics of third-generation autologous anti-CD19 CAR T-cells, WZTL-002, in patients with relapsed or refractory B-cell Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma without other curative options. The initial dose escalation cohort will use a 3+3 dose escalation design to identify a Maximum Tolerated Dose (MTD) of WZTL-002 using pre-defined Dose Limiting Toxicity (DLT) criteria. Within a subsequent dose expansion cohort at the recommended phase 2 dose, an automated closed-system manufacturing process for WZTL-002 and outpatient clinical management will be implemented.

Eligible participants will undergo leukapheresis to harvest peripheral blood mononuclear cells, the starting material for the manufacture of the autologous third generation anti-CD19 CAR T-cell product, WZTL-002. After WZTL-002 manufacture and confirmation that product release criteria are met, participants will receive lymphodepleting chemotherapy comprising fludarabine and cyclophosphamide on days -5 to day -3, inclusive. WZTL-002 will be administered intravenously on day 0 as a single dose.

Following WZTL-002 administration, participants will be monitored closely for 14 days, including targeted assessments for the specific CAR T-cell related toxicities of Cytokine Release Syndrome (CRS) and Immune Effector Cell Neurotoxicity Syndrome (ICANS). Initial DLT assessment will occur at day 21 after WZTL-002 infusion. A PET/CT Scan to assess treatment response will take place 3 months after WZTL-002 infusion, marking the end of the primary follow up period. The secondary follow up period will occur between 3 months up until 2 years after WZTL-002 treatment. Long term follow up within the trial will occur annually from 2 to 5 years after WZTL-002 treatment, with further follow-up within the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research (CIBMT) Cellular Therapies Registry and the Australasian Bone Marrow Transplant Recipient Registry (ABMTRR). In addition to clinical data, this study incorporates sample collection for exploratory endpoints including serum cytokine profile following WZTL-002 infusion, and WZTL-002 expansion, persistence and phenotype.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age 16 to 75 years (inclusive)

• Biopsy-proven relapsed or treatment refractory aggressive B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma of the following subtypes per World Health Organisation (WHO) classification: DLBCL and its variants, PMBCL, tFL, FL, MCL

• Requirement for treatment in the opinion of the investigator

• Presence of measurable disease as per Lugano 2014 Criteria

• No other curative treatments available, or not suitable due to patient or disease characteristics or lack of stem cell donor

• Malignancy documented to express CD19 based on flow cytometric or immunohistochemical staining

• Provision of written informed consent for this study

• Lymphoma-related life expectancy at least 12 weeks, and life-expectancy from non-lymphoma related causes of > 12 months

• European Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0 to 2 inclusive

• Adequate haematologic function, defined by neutrophils ≥ 1.0 × 10^9/L and platelets ≥ 50 × 10^9/L

• No serious cardiac, pulmonary, hepatic or renal disease.

  • Serum bilirubin < 2.5 times Upper limit of normal (ULN)
  • Estimated creatinine clearance (CrCl) ≥ 50 mL/min using the modified Cockroft Gault estimation or as assessed by direct measurement
  • Cardiac Ejection Fraction ≥ 50% as determined by Echocardiogram or MUGA Scan
  • Oxygen saturations > 92% on room air
  • Diffuse Capacity of the lungs for carbon monoxide (DLCO) or Carbon monoxide transfer coefficient (KCO), Forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) and Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) are all ≥ 50% of predicted by spirometry after correcting for haemoglobin and/or volume on lung function testing.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Confirmed active or prior central nervous system (CNS) involvement by lymphoma. In patients with a clinical suspicion of CNS disease, lumbar puncture and MRI brain must be performed

• Active CNS pathology including: epilepsy, seizure within the preceding year, aphasia, paresis, stroke, dementia, psychosis within the preceding year, severe brain injury, Parkinson disease, or cerebellar disease

• Richter Syndrome

• Active autoimmune disease requiring systemic immunosuppression

• Prior solid organ transplantation

• Allogeneic stem cell transplantation within the preceding three months or still requiring systemic immunosuppression

• Current grade II - IV acute graft versus host disease (GVHD), any prior grade IV acute GVHD, or current moderate or severe chronic GVHD

• Systemic corticosteroids at doses of ≥ 20mg prednisone daily or equivalent within 7 days of enrolment

• Peripheral blood lymphocytes < 0.3 x 10^9/L as assessed by complete blood count

• Peripheral blood CD3+ T cells < 150/μL as assessed by lymphocyte subset analysis

• Pregnant or lactating female

• Women of child-bearing potential who are not willing to use highly effective methods of contraception during study participation and for at least 1 year after WZTL-002 administration

• Men who are not willing to use highly effective methods of contraception during study participation and for at least 1 year after WZTL-002 administration

• Men who have a pregnant partner and are not willing to use a condom while performing sexual activity during study participation and for at least 3 months after WZTL-002 administration

• Participants with known sensitivity to immunoglobulin or to components of the investigational product (IP)

• History of active malignancy other than B-cell malignancy within two years prior to enrolment, with the exception of: adequately treated in situ carcinoma of the cervix; adequately treated basal cell carcinoma (BCC) or localized squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the skin; other localised malignancy surgically resected (or radically treated with another treatment modality) with curative intent

• Current or prior human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection

• Vaccination with a live virus within the preceding four weeks

• Treatment with a purine analogue within the preceding four weeks

• Treatment with alemtuzumab within the preceding 12 weeks

• Cytotoxic chemotherapy, radiotherapy or monoclonal antibody therapy (other than alemtuzumab) within 2 weeks of enrolment

• Prior gene therapy, including prior anti-CD19 chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy

• Receipt of an investigational medicine within another clinical trial within the preceding four weeks

• Inadequately controlled systemic infection

• Serologic status reflecting active viral hepatitis B or any history of hepatitis C infection as follows:

  • Presence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) or hepatitis B core antibody (HBcAb). Patients with presence of HBcAb, but absence of HBsAg, are eligible if hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA is undetectable (< 20 IU), and if they are willing to receive appropriate anti-viral prophylaxis.
  • Presence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody

• Presence of New York Heart Association (NYHA) class 2 or higher cardiac symptoms not related to lymphoma

• Significant concomitant illnesses which would in the investigator's opinion make the patient an unsuitable candidate for the trial

• Participants who have diminished capacity or any circumstance that would prohibit them from understanding and providing informed consent in accordance with ICH-GCP (International Conference on Harmonisation, Good Clinical Practice)

• Participant does not provide consent to enrol onto International Cellular Therapy Registry

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