AbbVie to Acquire Capstan Therapeutics to Advance Autoimmune Disease Treatment

(Chicago, IL and San Diego, CA) AbbVie will acquire Capstan Therapeutics for up to $2.1 billion to enhance its immunology pipeline with Capstan's innovative targeted lipid nanoparticle (tLNP) platform technology.

Key Takeaways:

Acquisition Target: AbbVie is acquiring Capstan Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biotechnology company specializing in in vivo engineering of cells through RNA delivery using tLNPs.

Lead Asset: The acquisition includes CPTX2309, Capstan's lead asset. This is a potential first-in-class in vivo tLNP anti-CD19 CAR-T therapy candidate currently in Phase 1 development.

Therapeutic Focus: CPTX2309 targets B cell-mediated autoimmune diseases by delivering mRNA encoding an anti-CD19 CAR to CD8-expressing cytotoxic T cells in vivo.

Mechanism of Action: CPTX2309 leverages a proprietary tLNP platform to preferentially deliver an mRNA payload to reprogram CD8-expressing T cells. These in vivo-modified T cells transiently express the CD19 CAR, leading to B cell depletion and potential immune system reset. This approach eliminates the need for lymphodepletion preconditioning and ex vivo manufacturing.

Strategic Rationale: AbbVie aims to transform autoimmune disease care by developing treatments that can "reset the immune system," moving beyond symptom management to address underlying disease mechanisms. This acquisition combines the potency of CAR-T therapy with the convenience of an off-the-shelf biologic.

Financial Terms: AbbVie will pay up to $2.1 billion in cash at closing.

Capstan's Technology: Capstan's CellSeeker™ tLNP platform technology uses novel LNPs conjugated with a recombinant protein binder (e.g., monoclonal antibody) to deliver RNA payloads for in vivo cell engineering.

SOURCE AbbVie