Researchers drew an analogy between the evolution of chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy for plaque psoriasis (PsO) and the historical development of the Ford Model T, highlighting the transformative impact of both in their respective fields. The original CAR-T therapies, developed in the 1990s, were limited in effectiveness, much like the early automobiles before the Model T; however, the introduction of modern CAR constructs with costimulatory domains dramatically improved the treatment of multiple myeloma, similar to the Model T revolutionizing transportation. This advancement is exemplified by therapies like idecabtagene vicleucel (ide-cel) and ciltacabtagene autoleucel (cilta-cel), which have shown unprecedented response depths and durations in highly refractory myeloma cases.

Despite these advances, to address limitations, researchers suggest various innovative strategies under investigation, likened to improving a car’s engine, mileage, and delivery process. These include enhancing the potency of BCMA targeting, extending the duration of responses, and reducing the time between CAR-T consultation and infusion.

Reference: Banerjee R, Lee SS, Cowan AJ. Innovation in BCMA CAR-T therapy: Building beyond the Model T. Front Oncol. 2022 Nov 24;12:1070353. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2022.1070353. PMID: 36505779; PMCID: PMC9729952.