Novartis CTL019 Program is Bleeding $$$ and Takeda Pharmaceuticals

[anonymous]

Has anyone heard the latest about the Novartis CART program (CTL019)? I hear the program is bleeding massive amounts of $$. Also, that Novartis tried to undergo an alliance deal/merger with Takeda pharmaceuticals. Takeda rejected the offer. There is no $ for a CART pipeline at NS. After the BLA for pediatric ALL, the unit will like face layoffs and shutdown. Has anyone heard anything along these lines?

 

[anonymous]

Yep. I work on CTL and this is where it's headed unfortunately.

 

[anonymous]

word on the street is that Oz Azam is leaving the unit. He is going to be CEO for our competition, Kite Pharmaceuticals. Go figure!

 

[anonymous]

word on the street is that Oz Azam is leaving the unit. He is going to be CEO for our competition, Kite Pharmaceuticals. Go figure!

Your story checks out so far. Oz is gone . Really going to kite??

 

[anonymous]

layoffs across the division today and CGTU officially dissolved. Possible layoffs in the future as well.

 

[anonymous]

pink slips and parachutes handed out across unit. bloodbath here in ma

 

[Anonymous]

There is also talk about an AZ take over .

 

[anonymous]

There is also talk about an AZ take over .

How strong are the tumors. Makes sense with their PD1 check point inhibitor due for submission in early 2017.

 

[anonymous]

How strong are the tumors. Makes sense with their PD1 check point inhibitor due for submission in early 2017.

*rumors.

 

[anonymous]

Novartis to disband cell & gene therapy unit, 120 jobs to go


Novartis is folding activities of its Cell and Gene Therapy unit into other business and research locations, eliminating 120 positions, the Swiss drugmaker said on Wednesday.

The move intensifies a corporate makeover begun this year as it focuses on high-growth areas including cancer immunotherapy.

Basel-based Novartis said the move will not derail its intentions to file CTL019, a chimeric antigen receptor T cell (CART) therapy, for treatment of young people with relapsed/refractory acute lymphoblastic leukemia with U.S. and European regulators in 2017.

Nor will it disrupt a gene editing push that Novartis hopes will lead to new therapies for hard-to-treat diseases, it said.

Novartis shook up its organization in May, splitting its pharmaceuticals division into two business units, one focused on cancer and the second on other drugs, while replacing its longtime drugs leader, David Epstein.

A company spokesman said the wind-down of cell and gene therapy as a stand-alone unit is an extension of the changes announced three months ago.

"Most associates who were previously dedicated to cell and gene therapies will now be redeployed to areas where they will share their knowledge and improve execution of novel therapeutics in the immunotherapy space," he said in an email. "We remain committed to CTL019, CART and CRISPR technologies."