BUZZ-Artiva stock falls after the company halted cell therapy development due to a patient death

October 27 - ** Drug developer Artiva Biotherapeutics (ARTV.O) shares fell 29.8% in premarket trading to $4.32

** The company decided to terminate research and development of its experimental cell therapy AlloNK ((link)) after reviewing clinical data and finding two patient deaths in the studies

** AlloNK was previously being clinically evaluated in combination with rituximab for rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune diseases

** The company added it would lay off about 94% of its employees and is evaluating strategic options

** Said one participant in the mid-stage clinical trial experienced a fatal neurological event after treatment

** Artiva has reported the event to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other regulators, prompting the agency to halt recruitment and dosing in the trial

** The company has also paused recruitment and dosing for the planned late-stage clinical trial

** Another participant died suddenly about two months after beginning treatment, but researchers stated the death was unrelated to the therapy and the specific cause remains unclear

** As of the previous close, the stock was up 43.6% for the year

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