Bayer is pulling the plug on its $670 million CAR-T pact with Atara Biotherapeutics. Three months after a death paused a study of the lead candidate, the German drugmaker has decided to cut its ties to Atara’s two mesothelin-directed CAR-T cell therapies.
Atara landed the deal with Bayer late in 2020, securing $60 million upfront and up to $610 million in milestones for worldwide rights to an early-phase autologous CAR-T and a preclinical off-the-shelf asset. At the time, Bayer hailed the deal as a “fundamental element” of its new cell and gene therapy strategy. Less than 18 months later, Bayer is jettisoning that formerly fundamental element of its strategy.
