RG6382 was a bispecific antibody designed to target both CD19 and CD3, redirecting T cells toward B cells implicated in autoimmune disease. The therapy had been undergoing evaluation in a Phase 1 open-label study involving patients with SLE. According to Roche, findings collected so far did not support continued development, and because lupus was the lead indication for the program, the asset has now been fully discontinued.

Autoimmune Cell Therapy Ambitions Remain Intact

Despite the setback, Roche emphasized that it remains committed to exploring cell-based approaches for autoimmune disorders. Interest in this field has accelerated in recent years as therapies originally developed for cancer, particularly CAR-T cell treatments, have demonstrated potential to reset dysfunctional immune responses in severe autoimmune diseases.

Roche’s continued interest in the area is closely linked to its 2024 acquisition of Poseida Therapeutics. The deal brought several cell therapy programs into Roche’s pipeline, including a BCMA/CD19-targeted CAR-T candidate with potential applications beyond oncology. Roche Pharmaceuticals CEO Teresa Graham confirmed that autoimmune disease was a significant consideration in the acquisition and indicated that the company intends to continue advancing relevant programs, with additional updates expected in the future.

Wider Pipeline Prioritization Efforts

The lupus program was one of several assets removed from Roche’s development portfolio during the latest review.

Type 1 Diabetes Program Shelved

Roche also halted development of CT-868, a once-daily dual GLP-1/GIP receptor agonist acquired through its purchase of Carmot Therapeutics. The decision came despite encouraging Phase 2 results.

Instead, the company has opted to focus on enicepatide, a once-weekly GLP-1/GIP agonist also obtained through the Carmot acquisition. Roche believes enicepatide may offer stronger differentiation in diabetes management and could benefit from development synergies because it is simultaneously being investigated as a treatment for obesity.

Diabetic Eye Disease Candidate Discontinued

Another casualty of the review was RG6351, an anti-Tie2 agonist being studied for diabetic macular edema (DME). The candidate had been tested both as a standalone treatment and in combination with established retinal therapies, including Eylea and Roche’s Vabysmo.

After assessing available data, Roche concluded the likelihood of demonstrating superiority over Vabysmo was low. The company noted that Vabysmo’s dual inhibition of VEGF and Ang-2 may already provide substantial activation of the Tie2 pathway, limiting the added value of RG6351.

Early-Stage Oncology Programs Removed

Among Phase 1 assets, Roche discontinued mosperafenib, a BRAF inhibitor being evaluated in solid tumors. Although early clinical findings were viewed positively, the company indicated that out-licensing the asset to an external partner may represent the most appropriate path forward.

Roche also terminated development of RG6468, another experimental oncology therapy that had been studied in combination with the immune checkpoint inhibitor Tecentriq. The decision followed a review of Phase 1 clinical results.

In addition, the company recently reaffirmed its decision to stop development of two Huntington’s disease programs, including the Phase 2 candidate tominersen, which had been partnered with Ionis Pharmaceuticals.

Bristol Myers Squibb Takes a Selective Approach to Business Development

While several large pharmaceutical companies have pursued aggressive acquisition strategies in recent years, Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS) signaled a more disciplined approach during its own second-quarter earnings discussion.

Chief Executive Officer Chris Boerner emphasized that the company’s late-stage pipeline reduces the need for major acquisitions. Although BMS completed roughly $30 billion in transactions over the previous two years, including acquisitions involving Orbital Therapeutics and 2seventy bio, deal activity has been relatively limited more recently, consisting primarily of licensing agreements and smaller partnerships.

Boerner noted that future transactions would need to align with therapeutic areas where BMS already has expertise, be supported by compelling science, and demonstrate clear financial value.

Chief Medical Officer Cristian Massacesi highlighted BMS-986458, an oral BCL6-targeted protein degrader under development for non-Hodgkin lymphoma, as the type of innovative platform that attracts the company’s interest.

Pipeline Highlights and Discontinuations at BMS

BMS executives identified several promising late-stage assets, including milvexian for atrial fibrillation and stroke prevention and admilparant for fibrotic diseases.

However, the company also announced multiple development setbacks.

Prostate Cancer Program Ends

BMS discontinued BMS-986365, an androgen receptor ligand-directed degrader being tested in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. An analysis of the trial’s initial dose-finding stage suggested a low likelihood of meeting efficacy goals in the subsequent portion of the study.

The company nevertheless remains supportive of its broader targeted protein degradation strategy and continues to advance another androgen receptor degrader, BMS-986460, which is currently in early-stage clinical testing.

Additional Programs Eliminated

BMS also halted development of:

• Comtifator (BMS-986419), an eIF2B activator targeting the integrated stress response pathway for neurodegenerative disorders.
• BMS-986490, a CEACAM5-directed antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) designed for advanced solid tumors.

Despite discontinuing the ADC candidate, BMS reaffirmed its confidence in the modality, citing continued progress with other programs such as izalontamab brengitecan, an EGFR/HER3-targeting ADC that recently reported positive Phase 3 results in triple-negative breast cancer.

Industry Trend: Greater Selectivity Amid Innovation

The latest portfolio decisions from Roche and Bristol Myers Squibb underscore a broader industry trend toward rigorous pipeline prioritization. Companies are increasingly willing to discontinue programs that show limited differentiation or uncertain commercial prospects, while continuing to invest in areas viewed as transformative, including cell therapies, targeted protein degradation, obesity treatments, and next-generation antibody-drug conjugates.

For Roche, the termination of its lupus T-cell engager marks a setback in autoimmune disease research. However, the company’s ongoing commitment to cell therapy development suggests that immune-resetting approaches, particularly CAR-T-based strategies, remain a key component of its long-term autoimmune strategy.