Novartis and BMS pause CAR-T trials after fatal immune syndrome cases

Novartis has halted several immunology and neurology studies of its CAR T candidate rapcabtagene autoleucel after three patients experienced fatal immune effector cell‑associated hemophagocytic syndrome.

Bristol Myers Squibb also paused autoimmune trials of its CAR T asset zolacabtagene autoleucel, citing transient and reversible inflammatory events observed in the studies.

Analysts noted that the emergence of these adverse events underscores safety risks in the CAR‑T space and could lessen competition among developers.