Bristol Myers Squibb on Friday reported that one patient died after receiving its investigational CAR-T therapy in an early autoimmune trial, adding to safety concerns about a growing field of research.
In a Phase 1 trial that tested the therapy in multiple sclerosis, a condition that causes muscle weakness and extreme fatigue, the patient experienced motor symptoms that did not resolve with standard autoimmune treatments. They were then given a potent immunosuppressant, but developed septic pneumonia and died, Bristol said in a press release.
This comes as safety events in CAR-T autoimmune trials have started to emerge. In September, in response to questions from analysts and reporters, Bristol said it paused studies of its therapy after observing “transient and reversible inflammatory events during routine study surveillance.” Around the same time, Novartis, also in response to questions, disclosed that three patients died in its CAR-T autoimmune studies after experiencing a condition in which the immune system becomes overactive.