CPTX-2309

AbbVie has made a bold move in the biotech field by acquiring Capstan Therapeutics for $2.1 billion, aiming to expand its portfolio in autoimmune disease treatments. This acquisition comes at a pivotal time for AbbVie, which has spent over $20 billion since 2023 to counter the patent expiration of its blockbuster drug Humira. The deal positions AbbVie to compete fiercely with Vertex and Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS) in the rapidly growing CAR-T therapy market, which is projected to skyrocket from $11 billion in 2023 to nearly $200 billion by 2034. Capstan’s cutting-edge mRNA-based CAR-T technology holds transformative potential. Unlike traditional CAR-T therapies, which require complex laboratory processes, Capstan’s targeted lipid nanoparticle (tLNP) platform allows for in vivo CAR-T cell generation through a simple injection. This breakthrough significantly reduces the time, cost, and complexity associated with CAR-T therapy, addressing key challenges such as long manufacturing cycles and high treatment costs. Founded in 2022, Capstan boasts a star-studded team of scientific pioneers, including Carl June, Bruce Levine, and Drew Weissman, a 2023 Nobel laureate and an mRNA technology trailblazer. Capstan’s CPTX2309, an anti-CD19 CAR-T therapy, entered Phase 1 clinical trials last month, targeting B-cell-mediated autoimmune diseases. The innovative approach eliminates the need for patient-specific cell extraction and pre-treatment with lymphodepleting chemotherapy, paving the way for off-the-shelf CAR-T solutions. Global CAR-T therapies are experiencing explosive growth. Gilead’s Yescarta leads the market with $1.57 billion in sales, while BMS’s Breyanzi posted a 105% growth to reach $747 million in 2024. Meanwhile, Novartis’s Kymriah, the first CAR-T therapy, saw sales decline to $443 million, reflecting fierce competition and evolving market dynamics. AbbVie’s acquisition secures a significant technological edge, as the tLNP platform could redefine CAR-T therapy, offering faster, safer, and more accessible treatments. This surge of activity reflects a broader industry trend. AstraZeneca recently invested $10 billion in EsoBiotec, marking its entry into the CAR-T field. Likewise, BMS fully acquired 2seventy Bio for $286 million, cementing its control over the BCMA CAR-T therapy Abecma. These moves underscore the intense competition among major pharmaceutical companies to dominate advanced cell therapy markets. AbbVie’s focus on in vivo CAR-T technologies represents a strategic pivot, aiming to capture a growing share of an industry poised for exponential growth. This acquisition not only positions the company as a leader in autoimmune disease treatments but also signals a transformative moment in the evolution of CAR-T therapies. The race to innovate faster, safer, and more scalable solutions has never been more intense, and AbbVie is clearly staking its claim as a frontrunner.

NORTH CHICAGO, IL and SAN DIEGO, CA, USA I June 30, 2025 I AbbVie (NYSE: ABBV ) and Capstan Therapeutics, Inc. (“Capstan”), a clinical-stage biotechnology company dedicated to advancing in vivo engineering of cells through RNA delivery using tLNPs, today announced a definitive agreement under which AbbVie will acquire Capstan, including CPTX2309, a potential first-in-class in vivo tLNP anti-CD19 CAR-T therapy candidate, currently in Phase 1, in development for the treatment of B cell-mediated autoimmune diseases. Additionally, AbbVie will acquire Capstan’s proprietary tLNP platform technology designed to deliver RNA payloads, such as mRNA, capable of engineering specific cell types in vivo. “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, M.D., executive vice president, research and development and chief scientific officer, AbbVie. “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.” “ In vivo CAR-T represents a potential new treatment modality in medicine – embodying the transformative power of cell therapy with the accessibility and scalability of an off-the-shelf biologic. This technology has the potential to become a first-in-class platform to treat a wide range of autoimmune diseases,” said Laura Shawver, Ph.D., president and chief executive officer, Capstan. “Through AbbVie’s world-leading expertise in immunology research, clinical development, and its commercialization capabilities, we believe that this transaction moves us closer to delivering on our shared mission to bring these innovative therapies to patients in need.” B cells contribute to the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. CD19 is a cell surface receptor expressed on B cells and is a clinically validated target for B cell depletion using ex vivo CAR-T cell therapy in autoimmune diseases. CPTX2309, a product of Capstan’s proprietary technology platform that includes hepatic de-targeting, delivers an mRNA payload encoding an anti-CD19 CAR preferentially to reprogram CD8-expressing cytotoxic T cells. This process is achieved in vivo , without the need for lymphodepletion preconditioning and complex ex vivo manufacturing. The in vivo -modified CD8-expressing T cells will transiently express the CD19 CAR and deplete B cells in the periphery and tissues. Depletion of autoreactive antibody-producing pathogenic memory B cells and repopulation with naïve B cells, resulting in immune reset, has the potential to prevent disease progression and induce clinical remission. Under the terms of the agreement, AbbVie will pay up to $2.1 billion in cash at closing to acquire Capstan, subject to certain customary adjustments. The transaction is subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including expiration of the applicable waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act. Advisors Capstan’s exclusive financial advisor was Centerview Partners LLC and Cooley LLP served as legal advisor. About AbbVie AbbVie’s mission is to discover and deliver innovative medicines and solutions that solve serious health issues today and address the medical challenges of tomorrow. We strive to have a remarkable impact on people’s lives across several key therapeutic areas including immunology, oncology, neuroscience and eye care – and products and services in our Allergan Aesthetics portfolio. For more information about AbbVie, please visit us at www.abbvie.com . Follow @abbvie on LinkedIn, Facebook , Instagram , X (formerly Twitter) and YouTube. About Capstan Therapeutics, Inc. Capstan is a clinical-stage biotechnology company with a mission to multiply the therapeutic possibilities for patients by developing targeted in vivo RNA technologies. Our proprietary CellSeeker™ tLNP platform technology is composed of novel LNPs conjugated with a recombinant protein binder, such as a monoclonal antibody, that deliver an RNA payload capable of engineering cells in vivo . Capstan’s initial focus is on developing in vivo CAR-T therapies designed to combine the potency of CAR-T therapy with the convenience of an off-the-shelf product for the treatment of autoimmune diseases.  For more information, please visit www.capstantx.com and follow us on LinkedIn . SOURCE: AbbVie