Key Takeaways
- AbbVie acquires Capstan Therapeutics for $2.1 billion: The deal adds a first-in-class in vivo chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy candidate, CPTX2309, to AbbVie’s immunology pipeline.
- CPTX2309 targets B cell-mediated autoimmune diseases: This Phase I therapy reprograms CD8+ T cells in vivo, eliminating the need for complex ex vivo manufacturing.
- AbbVie expands 2025 dealmaking momentum: The Capstan deal follows recent collaborations with Gubra, Xilio, Simcere, and Neomorph to diversify AbbVie’s therapeutic portfolio.
AbbVie announced that it has acquired Capstan Therapeutics. The acquisition includes Capstan’s lead candidate, CPTX2309—an anti-CD19 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy currently in Phase I development for B cell-mediated autoimmune diseases. The deal also includes the company’s proprietary tLNP platform designed to deliver RNA payloads directly to specific cell types in vivo.
Under the terms of the deal, AbbVie will pay up to $2.1 billion in cash at closing, subject to certain customary adjustments. The transaction remains subject to customary closing conditions, including the expiration of the applicable Hart-Scott-Rodino antitrust waiting period.1
What Makes This CAR T-cell Therapy a Potential Breakthrough in Autoimmune Treatment?
"Scientific innovation is required to address not just the symptoms of autoimmune diseases, but also to resolve and potentially cure the underlying disease," said Roopal Thakkar, MD, EVP, research and development, chief scientific officer, AbbVie, in a press release. "By advancing CPTX2309 and utilizing Capstan's novel platform technology, AbbVie and Capstan aim to transform the care of those living with autoimmune diseases by developing treatments that have the potential to reset the immune system."
According to AbbVie, CPTX2309 aims to reprogram CD8+ T cells in vivo, eliminating the need for preconditioning or complex manufacturing, and has the potential to reset the immune system by targeting and depleting autoreactive B cells, unlike traditional ex vivo CAR T therapies.1
Building on a Busy Year of Strategic Transactions
The deal builds on a series of strategic transactions AbbVie has executed this year. In March, the company announced that it had agreed to terms with Gubra to develop GUB014295, a weight loss therapy aimed at appetite regulation. Under the terms of the deal, AbbVie will handle development and global commercialization, paying Gubra $350 million upfront, with the potential to receive an additional $1.875 billion pending development and sales milestones.2
