Bristol Myers Squibb disclosed a previously undisclosed patient death that occurred in its halted Phase I multiple sclerosis CAR-T trial, Breakfree-2 (zola-cel). BMS confirmed the fatal event involved septic pneumonia following infusion, and it said the patient had late-onset motor symptoms not resolved with intermittent corticosteroids and intravenous immunoglobulin. BMS said CAR T expansion was consistent with what the company observed across the program, and it noted that high-dose cyclophosphamide was administered as part of lymphodepletion. However, the company said it currently cannot determine whether zola-cel caused the death, citing confounding factors including pretreatment complexity. The disclosure adds new detail to an earlier safety-driven halt of the study and keeps attention on infection risk, neurological late effects, and serious complications in CAR-T protocols. BMS stated that the case was reviewed with study investigators and regulatory authorities, and it reiterated that the overall safety profile across zola-cel programs remains consistent. For the CAR-T sector, the episode highlights how trial transparency around grade 5 events can shift after data cutoffs and case adjudication.