Bristol Myers Squibb Confirmed Patient Death in Trial
The pharmaceutical company is continuing its phase 3 trial of admilparant despite cases of liver toxicity.
Updated on Oct. 1, 2026 in Biotech
Bristol Myers Squibb confirmed a patient death due to multi-organ failure and acute hepatic injury during its phase 3 Aloft program trial. An independent data monitoring committee recommended that the study continue despite the incident.
Why it matters
This development highlights the ongoing safety monitoring within the Aloft program as Bristol Myers Squibb evaluates admilparant. The trial remains under observation following reports of liver toxicity at European sites earlier this year.
The study evaluates admilparant, an LPA1 inhibitor, in a phase 3 clinical trial. The firm has not unblinded the trial to identify if the adverse event is linked to the drug or the placebo arm.
The players
Bristol Myers Squibb
A global pharmaceutical company focused on the development of oncology, hematology, and immunology therapies through its extensive R&D pipeline.
The details
The Aloft program tests admilparant, a drug designed to inhibit LPA1 (lysophosphatidic acid receptor 1), a protein implicated in lung fibrosis. In May, trial protocols were amended for European sites to address observed cases of liver toxicity. This current investigation into the death involves assessing the role of acute hepatic injury and subsequent multi-organ failure within the study parameters.
Timeline
May 2026: Protocol amendment issued for European trial sites.
September 30, 2026: Analysts released investor notes regarding the clinical program.
End of 2026: Topline data expected for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
Early 2027: Data expected for progressive pulmonary fibrosis.
The Tech Race
The Aloft program represents a high-stakes clinical effort to develop novel treatments for pulmonary fibrosis. The company must now balance the advancement of this research against emerging safety signals to meet its target data release windows.
The clinical trial program for admilparant continues as planned, with topline data for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis expected by the end of 2026. Future therapeutic availability remains dependent on these upcoming data readouts and subsequent regulatory review processes.
The takeaway
The program proceeds despite the reported death, indicating that the independent committee did not find a sufficient reason to pause the study. Stakeholders should monitor the company's scheduled data releases for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis in late 2026 to evaluate the drug's safety and efficacy profile.
Further reading
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