AbbVie Acquires Capstan Therapeutics For $2.1B to Advance In Vivo CAR-T In Autoimmune Diseases

AbbVie has announced a definitive agreement to acquire Capstan Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biotech company advancing in vivo cell engineering via targeted lipid nanoparticles (tLNPs). The acquisition includes CPTX2309, Capstan’s Phase 1 anti-CD19 CAR-T therapy candidate designed to treat B cell-mediated autoimmune diseases. AbbVie will also acquire Capstan’s proprietary tLNP platform, which enables RNA payload delivery to engineer specific cells directly inside the body.

"In vivo CAR-T represents a potential new treatment modality in medicine, embodying the transformative power of cell therapy with the accessibility and scalability of an off-the-shelf biologic. This technology has the potential to become a first-in-class platform to treat a wide range of autoimmune diseases. Through AbbVie's world-leading expertise in immunology research, clinical development, and its commercialization capabilities, we believe that this transaction moves us closer to delivering on our shared mission to bring these innovative therapies to patients in need," said Laura Shawver, Ph.D., president and chief executive officer, Capstan.

CPTX2309 represents a novel approach to CAR-T therapy. Unlike traditional ex vivo methods, this candidate reprograms CD8+ T cells in vivo to transiently express anti-CD19 CARs, targeting and depleting pathogenic B cells without the need for lymphodepletion or complex manufacturing. This strategy may provide a safer, more scalable solution for inducing immune reset in autoimmune patients by depleting disease-driving B cells and enabling repopulation with naïve, non-pathogenic cells.

"Scientific innovation is required to address not just the symptoms of autoimmune diseases, but also to resolve and potentially cure the underlying disease. By advancing CPTX2309 and utilizing Capstan's novel platform technology, AbbVie and Capstan aim to transform the care of those living with autoimmune diseases by developing treatments that have the potential to reset the immune system," said Roopal Thakkar, M.D., executive vice president, research and development and chief scientific officer, AbbVie.

Under the terms of the agreement, AbbVie will pay up to $2.1 billion in cash at closing, pending standard regulatory approvals and closing conditions. The acquisition signals AbbVie’s commitment to expanding its immunology pipeline through advanced RNA and cell therapy innovations with the potential to reshape the treatment landscape for autoimmune diseases.