- Novartis paused eight clinical trials of rap-cel, an experimental cell therapy for autoimmune and neurological disorders, on Aug. 24 after three patient deaths.
- The company said the deaths involved life-threatening immune reactions; its cancer studies were not affected.
- Independent safety boards are reviewing the deaths, and Bristol Myers paused studies of a rival therapy as a precaution.
Quotes
“paused eight clinical trials of an experimental cell therapy, called rap-cel, targeting autoimmune and neurological disorders in late August, after three patients died.”