AbbVie has announced the acquisition of Capstan Therapeutics for up to $2.1 billion in cash, marking a significant expansion into in vivo CAR-T therapies. Capstan’s lead candidate, CPTX2309, a phase 1 anti-CD19 CAR-T therapy, is designed to reprogram immune cells inside the body, potentially overcoming challenges linked with traditional ex vivo CAR-T cell therapies such as manufacturing complexity and limited patient eligibility. This acquisition not only includes the phase 1 candidate but also preclinical programs and technology platforms for generating further therapies. The deal positions AbbVie aggressively in a burgeoning segment of cell therapy with wide therapeutic potential across autoimmune diseases, fibrosis, and cancer.