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Novartis and Bristol Myers are halting cell therapy trials for autoimmune diseases after patient deaths

Novartis paused 8 trials of its rap-cel therapy after patients died from a severe immune reaction; Bristol Myers followed as a precaution

Bristol Myers Squibb is a global pharmaceutical giant specializing in oncology, cardiovascular, and immunology drugs, formed through a 1989 corporate merger.

Novartis paused eight clinical trials of its experimental cell therapy rap-cel targeting autoimmune and neurological disorders after three patients died from a life-threatening immune reaction, according to Reuters. Bristol Myers has also voluntarily halted enrollment in its own competing CAR-T trials as a precaution.

The Swiss drugmaker said it initiated the hold on Aug. 24 upon learning of three cases of immune effector cell-associated........

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