New Studies on Leukemia Therapies

   In two separate clinical trials — sponsored by Novartis AG NOVN.VX of 
   Switzerland and Seattle-based biotech Juno Therapeutics Inc. — almost 90% of 
   patients saw their leukemia disappear after being given experimental 
   so-called CAR T-cell therapies. The results were published in December and 
   February, respectively.
   
   Both trials were in small numbers of patients: 22 children in the Novartis 
   trial and 16 adults in the Juno trial. The patients had acute lymphoblastic 
   leukemia—the most common childhood cancer—and had exhausted standard 
   treatments. Both companies are now conducting larger trials.