Pharmaindustrie: Novartis stoppt nach Todesfällen Studien zu Zelltherapie
Mit einer Zelltherapie wollte der Konzern Autoimmunerkrankungen behandeln. Doch bei klinischen Studien soll es zu Todesfällen gekommen sein. Darum wird die Entwicklung vorerst gestoppt.
Swiss pharmaceutical giant Novartis has suspended several clinical trials for an experimental therapy following the deaths of three patients, according to a media report. The Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday, citing a company spokesperson, that eight studies on treatments for autoimmune and neurological illnesses were halted in late August.
The cause of these three fatal cases of severe immune reaction is unclear. Novartis is conducting a thorough review of the incidents, the spokesperson told the newspaper. Such immune reaction is a known risk for the so-called CAR-T-cell therapy. The company is working with independent safety boards and shares its findings with regulatory authorities.
CAR-T therapies involve altering a patient's immune cells so they can recognize and destroy cancer cells. US corporation Bristol-Myers Squibb also paused similar CAR-T trials for autoimmune diseases as a precautionary measure, the paper added. Novartis and Bristol-Myers Squibb were initially unavailable for comment to Reuters.
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