Novartis pauses eight clinical trials of its experimental cell therapy rap-cel after three patients die, according to reports. The pause is described as starting in late August, following notification to the company about fatal cases tied to a severe immune reaction.
The company implements the halt on August 24 after being notified of three instances of a severe, life-threatening immune response. The therapy under study is aimed at autoimmune and neurological disorders, and the paused studies include multiple trials using the same experimental approach.
Across outlets, the key difference is mainly in emphasis: one report highlights that Novartis stops the studies after the deaths are linked to three cases of serious immune complications, while another specifies the timing of the notification and the date the pause begins. Both accounts frame the action as a safety-related measure in response to adverse reactions observed during ongoing trials.
