Arcturus Therapeutics Inc. has initiated legal proceedings against AbbVie Inc. and Capstan Therapeutics, alleging the misappropriation of proprietary lipid nanoparticle (LNP) technology. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California, contends that Capstan utilized Arcturus’s confidential LNP information to develop and patent competing drug delivery systems, which AbbVie subsequently acquired in a $2.1 billion transaction.
According to the complaint, Capstan recruited former Arcturus employee Priya Karmali and consultant Steven Tanis in 2022. Shortly after their hiring, Capstan applied for an LNP-related patent listing Karmali and Tanis as inventors, allegedly incorporating Arcturus’s confidential data. Arcturus asserts that the acquisition value of Capstan was primarily derived from these misappropriated trade secrets. The company is seeking monetary damages and a court order to prevent AbbVie from using its proprietary information. ([reuters.com](https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/arcturus-sues-abbvie-over-drug-delivery-trade-secrets-2025-09-23/?utm_source=openai))
AbbVie announced its intention to acquire Capstan Therapeutics in June 2025, aiming to bolster its immunology pipeline. Capstan’s lead asset, CPTX2309, is being developed for the treatment of autoimmune diseases. ([reuters.com](https://www.reuters.com/legal/transactional/abbvie-buy-capstan-therapeutics-up-21-billion-2025-06-30/?utm_source=openai))
This lawsuit is part of a broader pattern of trade secret disputes involving AbbVie. In March 2025, AbbVie filed a complaint against Genmab A/S, alleging misappropriation of trade secrets related to antibody-drug conjugate technology. ([pharmiweb.com](https://www.pharmiweb.com/press-release/2025-03-25/genmab-to-vigorously-defend-alleged-claims-of-trade-secret-misappropriation-by-abbvie-inc?utm_source=openai))
As of September 24, 2025, Arcturus Therapeutics’ stock (ARCT) is trading at $20.45, while AbbVie’s stock (ABBV) is at $219.99.
The outcome of this case could have significant implications for the pharmaceutical industry, particularly concerning the protection and commercialization of proprietary technologies.