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Novartis Halts Trials After Patient Deaths
1 Sep
Summary
- Novartis paused eight clinical trials for an experimental therapy.
- Three patients died from a severe immune response during trials.
- The experimental treatment is a form of CAR-T therapy.
Novartis recently paused eight clinical trials for an experimental CAR-T therapy. These trials were focused on treating autoimmune and neurological disorders. The temporary halt occurred in late August.
The decision followed the deaths of three patients who experienced severe immune responses. This is a known risk factor for CAR-T therapies, which are designed to modify a patient's immune cells to identify and destroy specific targets.
Novartis stated it is conducting a thorough review of these safety events. The company is collaborating with independent safety boards and sharing information with regulatory bodies. Bristol-Myers Squibb has also taken a precautionary measure by pausing similar trials for its CAR-T treatment in autoimmune disorders.
