Roche Acquires Poseida Therapeutics for Up to $1.5 Billion, Expanding Off-the-Shelf CAR-T Capabilities

Acquisition Details:
Roche will acquire Poseida Therapeutics for $9 per share in cash at closing, plus a non-tradeable contingent value right (CVR) for up to an aggregate of $4 per share in cash, totaling up to $1.5 billion[1][2].

Strategic Fit:
The acquisition aligns with Roche's strategy to expand its capabilities in off-the-shelf CAR-T therapies, particularly in oncology, immunology, and neurology[2][3].

Key Programs:
The deal includes Poseida's pipeline of allogeneic CAR-T candidates, such as P-BCMA-ALLO1 for multiple myeloma, P-CD19CD20-ALLO1 for autoimmune diseases, and P-MUC1C-ALLO1 for solid tumors[1][2].

Clinical Data:
Poseida's P-BCMA-ALLO1 has shown promising Phase I data with an 82% overall response rate in treated patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma[1].

Closing Expectations:
The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2025, pending regulatory and antitrust clearances[2][3].

Synergies:
The acquisition will leverage Roche's global capabilities in late-stage development and commercialization to advance Poseida's pipeline and democratize access to cell therapies[3][4].