Novartis is \u201ccontinuing to evaluate\u201d the in vivo CAR-T space, although the pharma\u2019s CEO has told Fierce Biotech that no deals are currently in the works.<\/p>\n
In vivo CAR-Ts\u2014which use gene editing to generate CAR-T cells within a patient\u2019s body\u2014have been a key component in the frenzy of Big Pharma dealmaking<\/a> this spring. Eli Lilly bought two in vivo companies<\/a> so far this year, leading industry analysts to question how many<\/a> potential acquisition targets are still out there.<\/p>\n Novartis dipped a toe into the space in 2024 when the company leveraged Vyriad’s<\/a> active targeting lentiviral vector platform.<\/p>\n When asked by Fierce Biotech on an earnings call this morning whether the Swiss pharma is considering buying its own in vivo biotech, Novartis CEO Vas Narasimhan said the company is \u201cvery excited about our own immune reset portfolio.\u201d<\/p>\n Narasimhan pointed to rapcabtagene autoleucel, a\u00a0CD19-targeted autologous CAR-T therapy, which is in phase 2 studies for blood cancers such as B-cell lymphoma, as well as for autoimmune indications such as lupus nephritis and systemic sclerosis. The company is aiming to submit the CAR-T to regulators for lupus nephritis<\/a> in 2028.<\/p>\n \u201cVery much our focus is hopefully bringing that medicine to market in the coming years and having a strong launch,\u201d Narasimhan said.<\/p>\n Beyond rapcabtagene autoleucel, the company is \u201cfollowing that on with a portfolio of bispecifics and then potentially future CAR-T technologies like in vivo CAR-T,\u201d the CEO told Fierce.<\/p>\n \u201cWe’ll continue to evaluate that space,\u201d he continued. While Novartis has \u201cno specific plans for any acquisitions\u201d in this area, Narasimhan said his team is \u201cvery aware of what’s going on.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cAnd, of course, if we see something that’s compelling, we’ll certainly take a look at it,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n It makes sense for Novartis to seek further sources to restock its pipeline\u2014the company blamed the arrival of generic competition to its heart drug Entresto, leukemia med Tasigna and thrombocytopenia therapy Promacta for a 5% decline in net sales in the first quarter<\/a> of the year.\u00a0<\/p>\n It explains why Novartis was happy to join in the flurry of Big Pharma dealmaking in the first quarter, penning a $2 billion deal<\/a> for allergy biotech Excellergy and its potential successor to Xolair. Novartis also paid $2 billion upfront<\/a> for a pan-mutant\u2011selective PI3K\u03b1 inhibitor from Synnovation Therapeutics that could help defend the pharma\u2019s breast cancer franchise from challengers like Lilly.<\/p>\n When asked by Fierce whether Novartis would be buying more biotechs this year to help shore up its pipeline from generic erosion, Narasimhan said Novartis is \u201cgoing to stay consistent with our M&A strategy.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe last few years have focused on acquiring companies typically in the sub-$2 billion upfront range, which build out our portfolio and then allow us to have multiple shots on goal in our key therapeutic areas,\u201d he told Fierce.<\/p>\n \u201cI think Excellergy and Synnovation both fit that profile,\u201d he said. \u201cThese are early- to mid-stage molecules in our core therapeutic areas, which we think can bolster our long-term growth profile.\u201d<\/p>\n