Cabaletta Bio Appoints Steve Gavel as Chief Commercial Officer, Bolstering Cell Therapy Expertise

Cabaletta Bio, a Philadelphia-based biotech company specializing in engineered T cell therapies for autoimmune diseases, has announced the appointment of Steve Gavel as its new Chief Commercial Officer (CCO), effective immediately. This strategic move comes as the company prepares for the potential launch of its lead candidate, rese-cel, for myositis treatment.

Gavel's Extensive Cell Therapy Background

Steve Gavel brings a wealth of experience in cell therapy commercialization to Cabaletta Bio. His career trajectory includes significant roles at industry giants:

• Three years at Celgene, where he served as executive director of U.S. commercial strategy and later as U.S. commercial development lead for the CAR-T portfolio.
• Over six years at Legend Biotech as senior VP of global cell therapy commercial development, where he built the company's commercial organization and played a key role in launching Carvykti, a Johnson & Johnson-partnered therapy for relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma.
• A brief stint as CCO at Orca Bio, where he was tasked with laying the commercial groundwork for Orca-T, an allogeneic T-cell immunotherapy.

Cabaletta's CABA Platform and Rese-cel Progress

Cabaletta Bio is leveraging its proprietary CABA platform to develop engineered T cell therapies targeting autoimmune diseases. The company's lead candidate, rese-cel, is currently being evaluated in multiple phase 1/2 trials for various autoimmune conditions, including:

• Myositis
• Lupus
• Scleroderma
• Myasthenia gravis

Recent study results have shown promising outcomes, with rese-cel demonstrating the ability to completely eliminate overreactive B cells in two patients with a rare autoimmune disease, without the need for preconditioning chemotherapy. This development has been met with enthusiasm from analysts and investors alike.

Strategic Implications and Future Outlook

Gavel's appointment as CCO is a significant step for Cabaletta Bio as it gears up for the potential commercialization of rese-cel. The company plans to file for FDA review of rese-cel as a myositis treatment in 2027. As CCO, Gavel will spearhead the global commercial strategy for rese-cel, leveraging his extensive experience in cell therapy commercialization.

Cabaletta Bio's CEO, Steven Nichtberger, M.D., expressed confidence in Gavel's ability to attract top talent and execute the potential launch of rese-cel. This appointment, coupled with the recent positive study results, positions Cabaletta Bio as a company to watch in the rapidly evolving field of cell therapies for autoimmune diseases.