AbbVie acquires Capstan for $2.1B, targets in vivo CAR-T market

AbbVie is making a significant move in the in vivo CAR-T therapy market by acquiring Capstan Therapeutics for $2.1 billion. This acquisition brings an early-phase autoimmune drug candidate into AbbVie's pipeline, highlighting the pharmaceutical company's commitment to advancing innovative therapies. Capstan Therapeutics is part of a group of biotech companies focused on overcoming barriers to CAR-T adoption by reprogramming cells directly inside the human body, rather than externally. This approach aims to address challenges related to manufacturing, scalability, and the necessity for patients to undergo lymphodepleting chemotherapy, which could hinder the widespread use of traditional CAR-T cell therapies. By developing in vivo CAR-T therapies, more patients could potentially benefit from powerful treatments.

AbbVie's acquisition includes a financial transaction of up to $2.1 billion in cash upon closing. In exchange, AbbVie will gain ownership of Capstan's phase 1 in vivo anti-CD19 CAR-T therapy candidate, CPTX2309, along with its preclinical programs and the technology needed to develop additional prospects. CPTX2309 consists of an anti-CD19 CAR mRNA payload encapsulated within a lipid nanoparticle, designed to deliver the payload to CD8-positive T cells using a targeting antibody. In preclinical studies, this approach successfully engineered human CD8-positive T cells into functional CAR-T cells.

Capstan has recently initiated a phase 1 trial of CPTX2309 in healthy volunteers in Australia, starting in April. The objective of this trial is to determine a pharmacologically active dose to be used in phase 2 studies involving patients with autoimmune diseases. While Capstan is conducting these studies, rival companies in vivo CAR-T biotechs, Interius BioTherapeutics and Umoja Biopharma, have already entered clinical trials. However, these competitors are initially focusing on cancer treatments and utilizing different technological approaches. Interius’ INT2104 and Umoja’s UB-VV111 employ lentiviral vectors to generate CAR cells in vivo, whereas Capstan uses mRNA to stimulate CAR T-cell production.

The potential of CPTX2309 lies in its ability to replicate the remarkable efficacy observed in autoimmune studies of traditional CD19 CAR-T therapies without encountering the limitations associated with ex vivo treatments, which are typically reserved for severely ill patients. This aligns with AbbVie's strategy, as the company aims to strengthen its position in the autoimmune drug market, especially after the loss of its flagship drug, Humira. AbbVie's success with newer drugs like Skyrizi and Rinvoq serves as a testament to its focus on innovative solutions.

Furthermore, acquiring Capstan opens up possibilities for AbbVie in other therapeutic areas. Capstan's preclinical pipeline features a BCMA program with applications in both oncology and autoimmune diseases. Additionally, a fibroblast target in Capstan's research could expand its reach into fibrotic disorders. The biotech company's pipeline attracted interest from several top pharma companies, enabling Capstan to raise over $300 million before AbbVie finalized the acquisition deal.

Overall, AbbVie's acquisition of Capstan Therapeutics marks a strategic advancement toward enhancing its capabilities in developing cutting-edge therapies, particularly in the rapidly evolving area of in vivo CAR-T treatments.