Novartis licenses Abogen's mRNA-encoded T-cell engager for autoimmune disease
- Novartis gains worldwide exclusive rights to ABO2203, an mRNA-encoded CD19xCD3 T-cell engager produced in vivo to reset B cells in autoimmune disease.
- The package is $575M upfront plus up to $7.2B in milestones (up to $7.8B in total) and royalties.
- Novartis also receives options on other Abogen RNA-based programs.
- The deal follows Novartis pausing an autoimmune CAR-T program after three deaths.
💡 Points
The $7.8B headline is mostly contingent; the $575M upfront is the real conviction signal. Landing this after pausing an autoimmune CAR-T program reads like Novartis hedging its B-cell reset thesis toward an in vivo, mRNA-delivered CD19xCD3 format. The options on other Abogen RNA programs suggest it is buying platform access, not just one asset.
Novartis pens $7.8B deal for Abogen's in vivo autoimmune T-cell engager ↗