Overview
- The cash acquisition brings in Orbital’s preclinical OTX‑201, a CD19‑targeted in vivo CAR‑T encoded by circular RNA and delivered via targeted lipid nanoparticles.
- OTX‑201 is in IND‑enabling studies with first human testing anticipated in the first half of 2026.
- In vivo delivery aims to enable simple IV dosing without external cell manufacturing or high‑dose conditioning chemotherapy.
- The buyout broadens Bristol Myers Squibb’s cell‑therapy lineup beyond its FDA‑approved ex vivo CAR‑T drugs Breyanzi and Abecma.
- The transaction aligns with a 2025 surge of big‑pharma deals for in vivo cell‑therapy platforms, including recent acquisitions by Gilead, AbbVie and AstraZeneca.