Deal strengthens BMS’s leadership in cell therapy and adds next-generation RNA platform for in vivo CAR-T development
Bristol Myers Squibb (NYSE: BMY) announced it will acquire Orbital Therapeutics, a privately held biotechnology company pioneering RNA medicines designed to reprogram the immune system in vivo. The $1.5 billion all-cash deal expands BMS’s industry-leading cell therapy portfolio with Orbital’s proprietary RNA technology and its lead preclinical candidate, OTX-201, a next-generation CAR T-cell therapy for autoimmune diseases.
Orbital’s OTX-201 uses circular RNA encoding a CD19-targeted CAR, delivered via lipid nanoparticles (LNPs), to trigger in vivo expression of CAR T-cells — effectively transforming the patient’s own body into a CAR T-cell manufacturing system. This approach could significantly reduce treatment burden and broaden accessibility compared to traditional ex vivo CAR T-cell therapies.
The transaction, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory review under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act, marks Bristol Myers Squibb’s first major acquisition of 2025. The company has been seeking to diversify beyond mature blockbusters such as Eliquis and Revlimid, reinforcing investor confidence in its long-term growth trajectory through next-generation therapies.
“This agreement with Bristol Myers Squibb, a recognized leader in global medicine, marks a transformational moment for Orbital and the advancement of RNA medicine,” said Ron Philip, Chief Executive Officer of Orbital Therapeutics. “The promising early data from our lead program underscore the potential of our integrated RNA technologies to deliver simpler, safer, and more accessible treatments.”
“With the acquisition of Orbital Therapeutics and its next-generation RNA platform, we have an incredible opportunity to make CAR T-cell therapy more efficient and accessible to more patients,” added Lynelle B. Hoch, President of BMS’s Cell Therapy Organization.
Orbital’s RNA platform integrates circular and linear RNA engineering, advanced LNP delivery, and AI-driven design to enable programmable RNA therapies that can be tailored to a wide range of diseases. Beyond its autoimmune focus, the technology could have broad applications across oncology and other immune-mediated disorders.
This move positions BMS alongside other major pharmaceutical companies racing to develop in vivo cell therapies. AbbVie acquired Capstan Therapeutics in a $2.1 billion deal in June, Gilead’s Kite Pharma purchased Interius BioTherapeutics for $350 million in August, and AstraZeneca made a $1 billion buyout of EsoBiotec earlier this year.
BMS has been steadily building its cell therapy capabilities since its 2019 acquisition of Celgene, which brought in CAR T programs from bluebird bio and Juno Therapeutics. Earlier this year, it also acquired 2seventy bio for $286 million, consolidating full ownership of Abecma, a CAR T therapy for multiple myeloma.
Founded in 2022 and backed by Arch Venture Partners and other investors, Orbital Therapeutics raised $270 million in 2023 to advance its RNA platform under the leadership of former Spark Therapeutics CEO Ron Philip. The company identified in vivo CAR T-cell therapies as its first clinical focus — a vision that now aligns with BMS’s strategy to drive innovation in autoimmune and cell-based therapies.
