Exicure Announces Publication in Annals of Hematology Highlighting Rapid Stem Cell Mobilization with Burixafor in Patients with Multiple Myeloma and Lymphoma Undergoing Transplant

Core Insights - Exicure, Inc. announced positive results from a Phase 2 clinical study of burixafor, a selective CXCR4 inhibitor, demonstrating rapid lymphocyte mobilization and potential therapeutic applications beyond transplantation [1][2] Study Results - The Phase 2 study involved 12 participants with multiple myeloma, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and Hodgkin disease undergoing autologous stem cell transplantation, with 92% achieving the primary endpoint of collecting ≥5.0 × 10⁶ CD34+ cells/kg within two leukapheresis sessions [2][3] - Notably, 6 participants achieved the target in a single session, with median times to neutrophil and platelet engraftment recorded at 12 and 22 days, respectively [3] Mobilization Profile - Burixafor demonstrated peak mobilization of CD34+ cells within one hour of administration, significantly faster than existing CXCR4 inhibitors, which peak at 10-14 hours [4] - This rapid mobilization allows for same-day leukapheresis, potentially simplifying treatment logistics and reducing hospital resource utilization [4] Clinical Implications - The combination of burixafor and G-CSF resulted in substantial increases in circulating lymphocyte counts, with increases of up to 11-fold observed in multiple myeloma patients [5] - The study highlights burixafor's potential applicability in gene therapy and CAR-T cell therapies, which require efficient peripheral blood cell collection [5] Future Development - Exicure is advancing burixafor's clinical development, having completed an additional Phase 2 study combining burixafor with G-CSF and propranolol, with positive topline data presented at recent hematology meetings [6] - The company aims to leverage burixafor's capabilities in various hematologic diseases, including plans for a chemosensitization trial in acute myeloid leukemia [8]