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AbbVie Moves to Strengthen Autoimmune Portfolio with $2.1 Billion Capstan Therapeutics Acquisition

By  |  June 30, 2025

North Chicago-based biopharmaceutical giant AbbVie has announced a definitive agreement to acquire Capstan Therapeutics for $2.1 billion in cash, expanding its footprint in the treatment of autoimmune diseases, according to The Wall Street Journal.

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    The acquisition includes Capstan’s lead therapeutic candidate, CPTX2309, which is currently undergoing Phase 1 clinical trials. The investigational therapy is being developed to target B cell-mediated autoimmune disorders—conditions in which the immune system erroneously attacks healthy tissues.

    In addition to the investigational drug, AbbVie will gain control of Capstan’s proprietary targeted lipid nanoparticle (tNLP) platform. This technology is designed to deliver genetic instructions directly to immune cells, enabling the precise targeting and elimination of harmful B cells. According to The Wall Street Journal, this platform could give AbbVie a competitive edge in treating diseases driven by dysfunctional B cells.

    The acquisition aligns with AbbVie’s broader strategy to fortify its position in immunology, a space where it already leads due to the commercial success of its therapies Skyrizi and Rinvoq. Both drugs are used to treat autoimmune and inflammatory conditions and are expected to collectively generate over $31 billion in sales by 2027.

    Per The Wall Street Journal, analysts see the Capstan deal as a strategic step in AbbVie’s efforts to remain dominant in the immunology sector, especially as it squares off with competitors like Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Bristol Myers Squibb, and Biogen. BMO analyst Evan Seigerman noted that the move builds on AbbVie’s “dominance in the inflammatory space” and positions it for stronger competition in the B-cell–driven disease segment.

    Source: The Wall Street Journal