--- title: 'Clinical Daily Summary: What Happened on October 27, 2026' headline: Artiva ends AlloNK program after two deaths and plans 94% workforce cut description: Bristol Myers Squibb disclosed a septic pneumonia death in its multiple sclerosis CAR T trial. Iza-bren more than doubled median progression-free survival in a Phase 3 lung cancer study. url: https://thebench.bio/news/clinical/2026-10-27 topic: clinical date: '2026-10-27' covers: - '2026-10-26' - '2026-10-27' date_published: '2026-10-28T00:03:14Z' date_modified: '2026-10-28T00:03:14Z' tags: - Clinical - Industry - Manufacturing sources: 20 publisher: TheBench.Bio --- # Clinical Daily Summary: What Happened on October 27, 2026 **Artiva ends AlloNK program after two deaths and plans 94% workforce cut** Bristol Myers Squibb disclosed a septic pneumonia death in its multiple sclerosis CAR T trial. Iza-bren more than doubled median progression-free survival in a Phase 3 lung cancer study. ## Today in brief Artiva ended AlloNK development after two deaths in a Phase 2a autoimmune-disease trial. Longer follow-up did not show the response durability the company considered necessary to continue. [1] [2] [3] It plans to cut about 94% of its workforce and is weighing a merger, sale, asset licensing, or dissolution. [1] [2] A participant died from septic pneumonia after receiving Bristol Myers Squibb’s zola-cel in a Phase 1 multiple sclerosis trial. BMS said it could not determine whether the treatment contributed. [4] [5] [6] In a Phase 3 lung cancer trial, iza-bren extended median progression-free survival to 11.1 months, versus 5.7 months with chemotherapy. Overall survival data were immature. [7] [8] ## Artiva ends AlloNK development and plans deep staff cuts Artiva discontinued AlloNK, its natural killer cell therapy, after two participants died in a Phase 2a trial for autoimmune diseases. [1] [2] The company said longer follow-up showed B-cell depletion and clinical activity, but not enough response durability to support continued development. [1] [3] According to Artiva, an investigator and independent safety reviewers judged one fatal neurological event likely linked to fludarabine toxicity. [1] [2] [3] The investigator considered the second death unrelated to AlloNK or other treatment components. Its cause remained unknown, the company said. [1] [2] [3] After the first death, the FDA requested that enrollment and dosing stop. Artiva also paused plans for a Phase 3 trial. [2] [3] Artiva plans to cut about 94% of its workforce, with the reductions expected to finish in the first quarter of 2027. [1] [2] It is weighing a merger, sale, asset licensing, or dissolution. The company reported preliminary cash, equivalents, and investments of $319.1 million at September 30. [1] [2] ## Iza-bren extends progression-free survival in EGFR-mutated lung cancer In the Phase 3 PANKU-Lung01 trial, iza-bren extended median progression-free survival to 11.1 months, versus 5.7 months with platinum-based chemotherapy. [7] [8] The China-based study enrolled people with previously treated, EGFR-mutated non-small cell lung cancer. Blinded independent review found a hazard ratio of 0.40. [7] Confirmed response rates were 60.2% with iza-bren and 34.5% with chemotherapy. [7] [8] Overall survival results were immature, though the companies described a favorable trend. [7] Two people receiving iza-bren developed interstitial lung disease, one Grade 1 and one Grade 3. The companies reported no new safety signals. [7] Iza-bren has FDA designation for this setting but is not approved for any indication. [7] [8] ## BMS reports septic pneumonia death in multiple sclerosis CAR T trial A participant in Bristol Myers Squibb’s Phase 1 Breakfree-2 trial died from septic pneumonia 44 days after receiving zola-cel. [4] [5] [6] The participant developed delayed motor symptoms that persisted despite corticosteroids and intravenous immunoglobulin, then received high-dose cyclophosphamide before developing the infection. [4] [5] [6] BMS said other complications and the participant’s extensive prior treatment made it impossible to establish whether zola-cel caused the death. [4] [5] The death occurred after the study’s data cutoff. BMS said it was the only Grade 5 event among 190 participants in its Phase 1 zola-cel autoimmune-disease programs. [4] [6] BMS said it notified investigators and regulators, and that a study safety committee reviewed the case. [4] A data monitoring committee determined that the multiple sclerosis cohorts could continue after the Breakfree program restarts. [4] At the higher dose, six of seven evaluable participants with relapsing disease met criteria for no evidence of disease activity at 26 weeks or later. [5] [6] In the evaluable progressive-disease group, 22 of 24 had no worsening disability, and all 24 had no new MRI activity. [5] [6] These interim efficacy findings came from small groups in a study without a control arm. The conference results had not undergone peer review. [6] ## Sac-TMT improves survival in previously treated endometrial cancer In the Phase 3 TroFuse-005 trial, sacituzumab tirumotecan, or sac-TMT, extended median overall survival to 19.0 months, compared with 12.1 months on chemotherapy. [9] [10] The trial enrolled 776 patients whose advanced endometrial cancer had progressed after platinum chemotherapy and anti-PD-1 or anti-PD-L1 immunotherapy. [9] [10] The risk of death was 32% lower with sac-TMT. Median progression-free survival was 7.2 months, versus 3.9 months with chemotherapy. [9] [10] Tumors responded in 35.1% of patients receiving sac-TMT and 17.3% receiving chemotherapy. [9] [10] Grade 3 or higher treatment-related adverse events occurred in 54.4% and 41.4% of patients, respectively. [9] [10] The FDA accepted the drug’s application for priority review, with an action date of June 15, 2027. [9] ## Moderna and Merck plan 2027 filing after melanoma vaccine trial Moderna and Merck’s personalized mRNA therapy intismeran reduced the risk of melanoma returning in a pivotal Phase 3 trial. [11] [12] [13] Moderna CEO Stéphane Bancel said the companies expect to file for FDA approval in 2027 and are preparing to test the treatment in other cancers. [12] Why the vaccine lowered recurrence risk remains unclear. [13] ## Also worth knowing - Mirum said zilurgisertib reduced average bone-lesion volume by 8.09 cm³ over 24 weeks in children with fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva. The placebo group’s volume rose by 9.14 cm³. Mirum plans to discuss the results with the FDA and seek an age-group expansion in 2027. [14] - Enanta dosed the first participant in RESOLVE, a Phase 2b/3 trial of zelicapavir in high-risk adults with confirmed respiratory syncytial virus infection. Initial Phase 2b results are expected in 2027. [15] - Immatics reported a 32% confirmed response rate for IMA402 among patients with high PRAME expression. The Phase 1b study was small and uncontrolled. [16] [17] - In a China-based Phase 3 osteosarcoma trial, GSK and Hansoh reported median progression-free survival of 5.5 months with risvutatug rezetecan, versus 1.4 months with chemotherapy. Grade 3 or higher treatment-related adverse events occurred in 93% and 83% of patients, respectively. [8] [18] - Aclaris reported early Phase 1b findings for ATI-052 in atopic dermatitis and asthma. In the skin-disease trial, EASI scores improved 45% versus placebo at day 57. [19] - Before bladder-cancer surgery, five of 15 evaluable patients given visugromab plus nivolumab had a pathological complete response, compared with one of 13 given nivolumab plus placebo. [20] ## The day in numbers - **94%**: Share of Artiva’s workforce the company plans to cut as it ends AlloNK development. [1] [2] - **11.1 vs. 5.7 months**: Median progression-free survival with iza-bren versus chemotherapy in PANKU-Lung01. [7] [8] - **19.0 vs. 12.1 months**: Median overall survival with sac-TMT versus chemotherapy in TroFuse-005. [9] [10] - **44 days**: Time from zola-cel infusion to the participant’s death from septic pneumonia in Breakfree-2. [5] [6] ## Also published - [STAT+: After two deaths in autoimmune cell therapy trial, Artiva is shutting down](), STAT Biotech - [Vitamin Derivative Pantethine Alleviates Psoriasis Symptoms in Small Human Trial](), GEN - [Artiva to quit autoimmune cell therapy work, cut staff after patient deaths](), BioPharma Dive - [IDWeek 2026: meropenem-pilabactam successfully targets critical priority pathogens](), Clinical Trials Arena - [STAT+: Nonprofit resurrects shelved gene therapy after startup shuts down ](), STAT Biotech - [ESMO26: KEYNOTE-C93 backs chemo-free Keytruda in dMMR endometrial cancer](), Pharmaceutical Technology - [ESMO26: Promising results seen for opamtistomig in advanced heavily treated epNEC](), Clinical Trials Arena - [ESMO26: Sac-TMT sets survival benchmark in recurrent endometrial cancer](), Pharmaceutical Technology - [What 3 multibillion dollar biotechs still have to prove](), PharmaVoice - [ESMO26: Ris-rez offers hope of osteosarcoma breakthrough](), pharmaphorum - [ESMO26: Breast cancer treatment landscape continues to be redefined](), Clinical Trials Arena - [Why Legacy Trial Workflows Weigh So Heavily on Community and Rural Clinics](), Applied Clinical Trials - [How Medications like XOCOVA Prevent Illness After Exposure to COVID-19](), Pharmaceutical Executive - [STAT+: Pennsylvania Dutch country, tired of waiting for biopharma, builds drug company of its own](), STAT Biotech - [Opinion: Cancer vaccines are finally here. How do we get them to patients?](), STAT Biotech - [ESMO readouts show how to get more from familiar cancer targets](), BioCentury - [Author Correction: Toripalimab or placebo plus chemotherapy as first-line treatment in advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma: a multicenter randomized phase 3 trial](), Nature Medicine - [STAT+: Roche gets a lung cancer win with its KRAS drug divarasib](), STAT Biotech - [The BioPharm Brief: Survival Gains, a Modest ADC Win, and CAR-T in Multiple Sclerosis](), BioPharm International - [How Much of the Community Participation Gap Is About Infrastructure, Not Willingness?](), Applied Clinical Trials - [Lung Cancer Blood Test May Help Predict Treatment Outcomes Before Surgery](), Inside Precision Medicine - [Pharmaceutical Executive Daily: Pathos AI Enters Collaboration with Bristol Myers Squibb](), Pharmaceutical Executive - [ESMO26: The “paradigm-shifting” readouts in endometrial & ovarian cancer ](), Clinical Trials Arena - [BioNTech, DualityBio say ADC had ‘modest’ benefit in breast cancer study](), BioPharma Dive - [ESMO ‘26: A cancer vaccine debate, Roche’s KRAS progress and Amgen’s ‘unprecedented’ data](), BioPharma Dive - [Measuring What Matters: Realigning Clinical Endpoints with Patient Reality](), Applied Clinical Trials - [ESMO26: SANOVO data backs 1L Orpathys use in NSCLC subgroup, but AEs temper reaction](), Pharmaceutical Technology - [STAT+: Merck ADC drug cut risk of death by one-third in advanced endometrial cancer](), STAT Biotech - [ESMO26: Sac-TMT’s OptiTROP-Lung04 survival gain holds, putting the onus on MSD](), Clinical Trials Arena - [BioNTech’s HER2 ADC Hits Phase 3 Goal, but Companies See Limited Benefit](), BioPharm International - [Novo’s Answer to Retatrutide Does Well at Phase II in Type 2 Diabetes](), Inside Precision Medicine - [Hot-tub therapy tested as potential treatment for peripheral artery disease](), Pharmafile - [Sensonics launches human feasibility study for transmitter-free Eversense CGM](), Drug Delivery Business - [Europe takes cancer science into ­immunology](), European Biotechnology - [Another autoimmune CAR-T death; Treasury zeroes in on China deals](), BioPharma Dive - [STAT+: Incyte pancreatic cancer medicine induces lasting tumor responses, company says at ESMO](), STAT Biotech - [ESMO26: AZ's claudin ADC doubles survival in GI cancers](), pharmaphorum - [MS has plenty of drugs. This Ocrevus veteran sees what’s missing.](), PharmaVoice - [ESMO26: Key data breathing new life into the lung cancer field ](), Clinical Trials Arena - [IDWeek 2026: novel antifungal turletricin demonstrates positive Phase II results](), Clinical Trials Arena - [ESMO26: Roche's KRAS drug tops approved drugs in NSCLC](), pharmaphorum - [IDWeek 2026: olorofim shows promise in second-line invasive aspergillosis](), Clinical Trials Arena - [ESMO26: Combination therapies show promise in prostate cancer](), Clinical Trials Arena - [Genmab’s acquisition spree starts to pay off with new ovarian and colorectal cancer data](), European Biotechnology - [Alnylam reports preliminary Phase Ib trial results for brezosiran](), Clinical Trials Arena - [The Importance of Reframing COVID-19 as a Preventable Event](), Pharmaceutical Executive - [Pfizer reports Phase II data for 25vPnC infant vaccine candidate](), Clinical Trials Arena - [ESMO26: Novel combo successes signal shift from frontline chemo in cold cancers](), Clinical Trials Arena - [Most advanced breast cancer patients treated in community settings, Phesi study finds](), Pharmafile - [ESMO26: Amgen’s Imdelltra posts win in first-line SCLC maintenance setting](), Clinical Trials Arena - [Neoadjuvant durvalumab plus chemotherapy in resectable or borderline resectable non-small-cell lung cancer: the phase 2 MDT-BRIDGE trial](), Nature Medicine ## Sources 1. [After 2 patient deaths and cell therapy durability concerns, Artiva cuts 94% of workforce](), BioSpace, 2026-10-27 2. [Artiva Axes 94% of Workforce, Weighs Strategic Alternatives After Two Patients in Phase IIa Trial Die](), GEN, 2026-10-27 3. [Patients Deaths and Data Shortfall Spell the End for Cell Therapy Biotech Artiva](), MedCity News, 2026-10-27 4. [Bristol Myers Squibb confirms patient death in multiple sclerosis CAR T trial](), BioProcess International, 2026-10-27 5. [Bristol Myers Squibb Discloses Patient Death in CAR-T Multiple Sclerosis Trial](), Pharmaceutical Executive, 2026-10-26 6. [BMS Reports Death in Phase 1 Zolacabtagene Autoleucel MS Study](), BioPharm International, 2026-10-26 7. [BMS, SystImmune Report Phase 3 PFS Data for Iza-Bren in EGFR NSCLC](), BioPharm International, 2026-10-27 8. [The BioPharm Brief: Two Phase 3 ADC Wins and a TCR Bispecific in PRAME-High Tumors](), BioPharm International, 2026-10-27 9. [Merck and Kelun’s Sac-TMT Extends Survival by Nearly 7 Months in Pretreated Endometrial Cancer](), BioPharm International, 2026-10-26 10. [Trop-2 Antibody-Drug Conjugate Improves Survival in Recurrent Endometrial Cancer](), Inside Precision Medicine, 2026-10-26 11. [STAT+: Moderna CEO on what’s next after success in cancer vaccine](), STAT Biotech, 2026-10-26 12. [STAT+: Five biotech updates to read after ESMO this weekend](), STAT Biotech, 2026-10-26 13. [Milestone cancer vaccine success leaves hard questions unanswered](), Science News, 2026-10-26 14. [Mirum reports Phase II zilurgisertib trial data in paediatric FOP](), Clinical Trials Arena, 2026-10-27 15. [First patient dosed in Enanta’s Phase IIb/III trial for RSV](), Clinical Trials Arena, 2026-10-27 16. [Immatics shows off its PRAME bispecific data at ESMO 2026](), European Biotechnology, 2026-10-27 17. 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