Novartis and Bristol Myers Squibb pause cell therapy trials; $480K cancer drug price now routine, new pricing deals announced

Novartis and Bristol Myers Squibb have announced pauses in several of their cell therapy trials, citing operational considerations. The pauses affect multiple programs but the companies did not detail which specific candidates are impacted.

At the same time, a cancer drug priced at $480,000 per treatment is being described as a routine cost, highlighting the continuing high price levels for advanced oncology therapies.

President Trump unveiled a new round of pricing agreements, adding nine drugmakers to the existing list of companies that have pledged to sell new medicines in the United States at prices comparable to the lowest prices in peer nations and to offer Medicaid the most‑favored‑nation rates.