STOCKS | Novartis Halts Eight Rap-Cel Trials After Three Patient Deaths

Novartis Pharmaceuticals paused eight clinical trials of an investigational therapy for autoimmune and neurological diseases at the end of August after three patient deaths. According to Sina Finance, a company spokesperson said Novartis temporarily stopped the studies after learning of three deaths involving severe immune reactions. The spokesperson said the company is conducting a full review of the safety events and noted that such fatal immune reactions are a known risk of CAR-T therapy. Novartis said it is working with independent safety committees overseeing the paused trials and is sharing information with regulators. Bristol Myers Squibb said it has also paused similar clinical trials of its CAR-T therapy for autoimmune diseases as a precaution. According to Sina Finance, it was not immediately clear when the New Jersey-based drugmaker suspended research on the therapy, called zola-cel.