Caribou Halts Allogeneic CAR T Programs as Funding Pressures Mount

“Caribou’s story has taken a heartbreaking turn,” says CEO Rachel Haurwitz, with the CRISPR-focused biotech set to discontinue vispa-cel and CB-011, and reduce its workforce

October 12, 2026
3 min

The Medicine Maker

At a Glance

Category	Detail
Condition	Vispa-cel is being developed for relapsed or refractory B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma; CB-011 is being evaluated for relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma.
Key Mechanisms	Vispa-cel is an anti-CD19 CAR T-cell therapy with a PD-1 knockout intended to limit premature T-cell exhaustion. CB-011 is an anti-BCMA therapy with a B2M knockout and insertion of a B2M–HLA-E-peptide fusion protein intended to reduce immune rejection of donor-derived cells.
Target Population	Vispa-cel targets patients with relapsed or refractory B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma; CB-011 is being evaluated in patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma.
Care Setting	Clinical development of investigational cell therapies; the article reports no treatment use or care-setting recommendations.

Key Highlights

Caribou plans to discontinue development of vispa-cel and CB-011 and make substantial workforce reductions.
The company cited difficulty securing funding in the current financing environment for allogeneic CAR T-cell therapies.
Vispa-cel had reached agreement with the FDA on the design of a pivotal phase III trial; CB-011 was being evaluated in relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma.
Both candidates received FDA Regenerative Medicine Advanced Therapy, Fast Track, and Orphan Drug designations.
Caribou’s board is reviewing strategic alternatives, including a possible merger, acquisition, business combination, or transaction involving the company or its assets.

Guideline-Based Recommendations

Diagnosis

Management

Monitoring & Follow-up

Risks

Patient & Prescribing Data

Vispa-cel was being developed for relapsed or refractory B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma; CB-011 was being evaluated for relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma.

The article describes allogeneic CAR T-cell therapies as using donor cells. Caribou plans no further development of these candidates under its current plans; the article provides no prescribing or dosing information.