Artiva ends autoimmune cell therapy work and plans 94% staff cut

Artiva Biotherapeutics will stop developing its experimental AlloNK cell therapy for autoimmune conditions and lay off 94% of its staff, BioPharma Dive reported. The decision follows two trial participant deaths and clinical responses that the company said lacked sufficient durability to justify continued development. Artiva said both deaths appear unrelated to AlloNK. An investigator linked one participant's neurological reaction to fludarabine, a chemotherapy used to prepare patients for treatment. The FDA requested a pause in the Phase 2a trial; Artiva also stopped planned Phase 3 enrollment and dosing. The company has hired a financial adviser for a strategic review.