Bexidem

Bexidem (IDM-201) is an autologous cell-based immunotherapy developed for the adjuvant treatment of superficial (non-muscle-invasive) papillary bladder cancer following transurethral resection (TUR). The therapy consists of Monocyte-derived Activated Killer (MAK) cells, which are macrophages derived from the patient's own peripheral blood mononuclear cells and activated ex vivo. Administered intravesically, these cells exert anti-tumor effects through direct cytotoxicity against bladder tumor cells and the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines, most notably tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α). While Bexidem demonstrated a favorable safety profile in a Phase II/III trial, it failed to show superior efficacy compared to the standard-of-care Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG), leading to the discontinuation of its development after IDM Pharma was acquired by Takeda.

Brand names

Bexidem

Other names

Monocyte-derived Activated Killer cellsMAK cellsautologous macrophage cell therapy