Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (BMY.US) spends $1.5 billion to acquire biotechnology company Orbital to strengthen its cell therapy product portfolio.

American pharmaceutical company Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (BMY.US) has agreed to acquire biotechnology company Orbital Therapeutics for $1.5 billion in cash. The deal is expected to strengthen Bristol-Myers Squibb Company's cell therapy product portfolio. Orbital is developing a new generation of RNA drugs aimed at reprogramming cells in the body to treat diseases at the source. Its leading RNA immunotherapy preclinical candidate OTX-201 targets clearing B cells to reset the immune system for the treatment of autoimmune diseases. In addition to OTX-201, the deal also includes Orbital's proprietary RNA platform. The platform integrates circular and linear RNA engineering technologies, advanced lipid nanoparticle delivery systems (LNP), and AI-driven drug design to achieve durable, programmable RNA therapy customized for the diverse biological features of various diseases. President of Bristol-Myers Squibb Company's Cell Therapy Business, Lynelle B. Hoch, stated: "By acquiring Orbital and its next-generation RNA platform, we have an exciting opportunity to make CAR-T cell therapy more effective and benefit more patients."