Biography
Vicki Plaks is a Principal Scientist, Department of Translational Medicine at Kite, A Gilead Company. Vicki is supporting the development of CAR-T therapeutics in B cell malignancies. As a Translational Lead to various clinical programs, Vicki is focusing on clinical pharmacology, biomarker strategies and reverse translation efforts to expand YESCARTA into new indications and facilitate next-generation programs as well as understanding mechanisms of CAR-T related toxicities. Prior to Kite, Vicki had worked at Genentech, where she gained experience in supporting cancer immunotherapy antibody drug development, while leading bioanalysis, circulating biomarker strategies and assay development for solid tumors. From her time as a postdoc and Assistant Adjunct Prof at UCSF, Vicki gained extensive expertise in leading pre-clinical targeted cancer drug discovery research for breast cancer. She focused on tumor-stromal immunobiology and cancer stem cell signaling. Thus far, Vicki published numerous (29) first author, senior author, and collaborative peer-reviewed publications.

Immunotherapy Showcase:
Kite Pharma
Kite, A Gilead Company is focused on curative cell therapies for hard-to-treat cancers.

Biomarkers Associated With Clinical Outcomes Supporting Approval of YESCARTA®
YESCARTA® is a CAR-T therapy that was approved by the US FDA and European Commission for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed/refractory large B cell lymphoma after ≥ 2 lines of systemic therapy. Three-year data for the pivotal ZUMA-1 trial indicates 47% Overall Survival rate. This presentation will review key biomarkers that supported the approval, yielding a mechanistic model of efficacy, toxicities and resistance.