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Getting the latest healthcare news for you
Novartis has paused eight clinical trials of its experimental CAR-T therapy, rap-cel, after three patients died from life-threatening immune reactions. The halt, enacted on August 24, affects trials targeting autoimmune conditions like lupus and MS, while cancer trials remain ongoing. Bristol Myers Squibb reportedly followed suit, pausing similar trials as a precaution.
Novartis put the brakes on eight clinical trials of its experimental cell therapy, rap-cel, on August 24 after three patients died from a severe, life-threatening immune reaction. The reaction — in which the body's immune system goes into overdrive and attacks its own organs — is a known risk of CAR-T therapy, but the deaths triggered an immediate safety review.
The paused trials were targeting autoimmune and neurological conditions, including lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, vasculitis, multiple sclerosis, and myasthenia gravis. Novartis's existing trials for lymphoma and leukemia were not affected. Bristol Myers Squibb also reportedly paused similar CAR-T autoimmune trials as a precautionary measure.
Key Takeaways:
Why it matters: CAR-T therapy has been generating significant excitement as a potential treatment for autoimmune diseases beyond cancer. These deaths are a sobering reminder that expanding powerful immunotherapies into new disease areas carries serious, potentially fatal risks — and that robust safety monitoring is critical.
