Novartis bets on autoimmune BiTEs through $7.8bn Abogen deal

Novartis has agreed to a $7.8 billion deal with Abogen centred on ABO2203, the biotech's autoimmune bispecific T-cell engager. Unlike other therapies in this class, ABO2203 uses an mRNA-encoded system to produce the T-cell engager protein in vivo. The deal signals Novartis' move into autoimmune applications of the BiTE approach.