AbbVie to Acquire Capstan Therapeutics for $21 Billion, Boosting Autoimmune Disease Portfolio

AbbVie Inc. has agreed to acquire Capstan Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biotechnology company, for up to 21 billion dollars in cash. The acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions. This strategic move by AbbVie is aimed at enhancing its portfolio in the field of autoimmune disease treatments.

Capstan Therapeutics is primarily focused on developing in vivo CAR-T therapies, which combine the powerful efficacy of CAR-T therapies with the convenience of "off-the-shelf" products. Their core candidate product, CPTX2309, is a potential "first-in-class" drug targeting B cell-mediated autoimmune diseases. This candidate therapy is an in vivo targeted lipid nanoparticle (tLNP) delivery of anti-CD19 CAR-T, currently in the first stage of clinical development.

In addition to CPTX2309, AbbVie will also acquire Capstan's proprietary tLNP platform technology. This technology is designed to deliver RNA payloads, such as mRNA, to engineer specific cell types in vivo. The acquisition of this technology will further strengthen AbbVie's capabilities in developing innovative treatments for autoimmune diseases.

The executive vice president, head of research and development, and chief scientific officer of AbbVie stated, "By advancing the development of CPTX2309 and leveraging Capstan's innovative platform technology, AbbVie and Capstan are committed to transforming the treatment paradigm for autoimmune disease patients through potentially immune system-reshaping therapeutic methods."

This acquisition is a significant step for AbbVie in its efforts to expand its presence in the biotechnology sector and to bring innovative treatments to patients suffering from autoimmune diseases. The combination of AbbVie's resources and Capstan's cutting-edge technology is expected to accelerate the development of new therapies that could revolutionize the treatment of these conditions.