Cabaletta Bio Appoints Steve Gavel as Chief Commercial Officer to Lead CAR-T Therapy Launch
Key Insights
Cabaletta Bio has appointed Steve Gavel as Chief Commercial Officer to lead the global commercial strategy for rese-cel, the company's lead CAR-T cell therapy for autoimmune diseases (search).
Gavel brings extensive CAR-T commercialization experience from Legend Biotech, where he successfully led the launch of CARVYKTI for multiple myeloma (search) from 2018 to 2025.
The company anticipates its first Biologics License Application submission for rese-cel in myositis (search) in 2027, marking a potential milestone in autoimmune disease treatment.
Cabaletta Bio has appointed Steve Gavel as Chief Commercial Officer, effective immediately, to spearhead the global commercial strategy for rese-cel (resecabtagene autoleucel), the company's lead CAR-T cell therapy targeting autoimmune diseases (search). The appointment comes as the clinical-stage biotechnology company prepares for a potential Biologics License Application (BLA) submission in myositis (search) in 2027.
Proven CAR-T Leadership Experience
Gavel brings significant commercialization expertise from his seven-year tenure at Legend Biotech, where he served as Senior Vice President of Global Cell Therapy Commercial Development from 2018 to 2025. During this period, he led the successful launch of CARVYKTI®, a CAR-T therapy for relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma (search), in partnership with Johnson & Johnson.
"Steve is an outstanding leader with a track record of success launching and commercializing cellular therapies," said Steven Nichtberger, M.D., Chief Executive Officer of Cabaletta Bio. "His extensive cell therapy experience will enhance our efforts to maximize the value of rese-cel for patients, payers and providers."
At Legend Biotech, Gavel created and scaled the commercial organization while leading implementation of all CAR-T logistics and management of leading CAR-T centers in the U.S. His career also includes senior commercial roles at Celgene (now Bristol Myers Squibb (search)), Takeda Pharmaceuticals (search), Johnson & Johnson, and Immunex (search).
Strategic Focus on Autoimmune Applications
Cabaletta Bio is developing rese-cel as part of its CARTA (Chimeric Antigen Receptor T cells for Autoimmunity) strategy, representing a 4-1BB-containing fully human CD19 (search)-CAR T cell investigational therapy. The treatment is currently being evaluated in the RESET™ (REstoring SElf-Tolerance) clinical development program spanning multiple therapeutic areas, including rheumatology, neurology and dermatology.
"I am honored to join the team at Cabaletta as the Company moves into the next phase of growth with an enhanced focus on commercial planning, development and execution," Gavel said. "With a planned first BLA submission for myositis (search) in 2027, I look forward to drawing on my previous experience with successful CAR T launches building robust commercial foundations and teams that can scale quickly with success."
Compensation and Equity Structure
In connection with his appointment, Gavel received an inducement equity award approved in accordance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4). The inducement grant consists of non-qualified stock options to purchase 275,000 shares of the company's common stock at an exercise price of $2.49 per share, equal to the closing price on October 13, 2025.
The options have a 10-year term and vest over four years, with 25% vesting on the one-year anniversary of the grant date and the remainder vesting in 12 equal quarterly installments over the subsequent three years. The stock options are subject to the terms of Cabaletta's 2025 Inducement Plan.
Company Platform and Pipeline
Cabaletta Bio's CABA™ platform encompasses two complementary strategies aimed at advancing engineered T cell therapies with potential to become deep and durable treatments for autoimmune diseases (search). The Philadelphia-based company positions itself as focused on developing the first curative targeted cell therapies designed specifically for patients with autoimmune diseases, including systemic lupus erythematosus (search) and myositis (search).