Artiva falls after halting cell therapy development following patient deaths
ARTV•Artiva Biotherapeutics shares fell 29.8% premarket after it halted development of experimental cell therapy AlloNK following a review of clinical data and two patient deaths. The company is cutting its workforce by about 94% and evaluating strategic alternatives.
1. AlloNK development halted
Artiva scrapped development of AlloNK, which was being evaluated with rituximab for rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune diseases. One participant in a mid-stage trial experienced a fatal neurological event after treatment; Artiva reported it to the FDA and regulators, prompting a pause in enrollment and dosing. The company also paused planned enrollment and dosing in a late-stage trial.
2. Second death reported
A second participant died suddenly about two months after starting treatment. Investigators said the death was unrelated to the therapy, and its cause remains unknown. Artiva is reducing its workforce by about 94% and evaluating strategic alternatives.
