Novartis and Bristol Myers Squibb have paused autoimmune CAR-T development after immune-related adverse events in ongoing trials. Novartis reportedly halted multiple indications for its CD19-directed rap-cel after three deaths associated with a dangerous immune response. Bristol Myers has voluntarily paused its zola-cel program while it reviews safety signals observed across its autoimmune CAR-T studies. Both companies framed the moves as precautionary while they evaluate whether protocols need modification. The pauses remove near-term catalysts for investors and can reshape timelines for autoimmune-cell-therapy strategies, especially where dosing, patient selection, and cytokine-management protocols are being revalidated.