Novartis to close its Cell and Gene Therapy Unit

Novartis is closing its Cell and Gene Therapy unit into other business and research locations, eliminating 120 positions. The move follows a corporate makeover begun this year as it focuses on high-growth areas including cancer immunotherapy. Novartis has said the decision will not alter its intentions to file CTL 019, a chimeric antigen receptor T cell (CART) therapy, for treatment of young people with relapsed/refractory acute lymphoblastic leukemia with U.S. and European regulators in 2017.