Roche halts lupus T-cell engager RG6382 development after early trial review

Roche announced it is stopping work on RG6382, a bispecific T-cell engager targeting CD19 and CD3, which was being tested in a phase‑1 study in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

The decision was disclosed during Roche’s second‑quarter earnings release and described as a result of data indicating the molecule lacks the necessary characteristics to advance in lupus, the lead indication for the asset.

Despite the setback, Roche’s head of pharma said the company remains committed to pursuing cell‑based therapies for autoimmune diseases, referencing its broader strategy that includes the 2024 acquisition of Poseida Therapeutics.

The move reflects a broader pipeline clean‑out at Roche, but the firm continues to explore other approaches such as CAR‑T platforms being developed by partners in the autoimmune space.