Sep. 2 at 4:06 PM
$ABCL
Novartis has now paused 8 autoimmune/neurology CAR-T trials after 3 patient deaths tied to severe immune reactions. BMS has also paused an autoimmune CAR-T program. Meanwhile Vertex partnered with AbCellera to use its multispecific T-cell engager platform in autoimmune disease.
VERY interesting.
CAR-T can produce very deep immune-cell depletion, but it comes with major baggage: manufacturing, lymphodepletion, hospitalization and serious toxicity risk.
If antibody-based T-cell engagers can eventually deliver meaningful immune depletion with off-the-shelf dosing and better control, that could be a HUGE deal.
No, this does not prove Vertex/ABCL will succeed. But it absolutely strengthens the strategic rationale for why Vertex chose this platform in the first place.
The
$28M upfront was never the interesting part. The interesting part is what happens if autoimmune medicine starts looking for a safer, scalable alternative to cell therapy.
ABCL is in the middle of that shift 👀
