Artiva Shuts Down After Two Autoimmune Trial Deaths — SkimNews
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- Artiva said Tuesday it is winding down after two patients died in a Phase 2 study of its NK cell therapy for autoimmune diseases.
- Artiva reported that one participant died from a neurological complication after receiving the NK cell therapy; researchers determined the death was likely not related to the therapy itself.
- Artiva said that participant's death was likely related to chemotherapy given before the cell therapy, a standard step used to lower white blood cell count and make room for the new cells.
- Artiva reported that a second participant experienced sudden death about two months after treatment.
- Artiva said researchers determined the second death was not related to any component of the treatment process, but the cause has not been determined.
Why it matters: Investigators did not attribute either of Artiva’s two participant deaths to the NK cell therapy. The closure ends its Phase 2 work with two lives lost, but the available evidence does not establish that the therapy caused the deaths, and the second death’s cause remains undetermined.
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