Juno Trial on Hold Again After Two Patient Deaths

Juno Therapeutics Inc. said it halted a trial of its lead experimental cancer therapy after two patients died following swelling of the brain, reawakening questions about the safety of the company’s approach to fighting cancer.

The patients were part of Juno’s mid-stage “Rocket” trial to treat acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and developed cerebral edemas this week, the company said Nov. 23 in a statement and during a conference call. The trial is testing the drugmaker’s lead product, called JCAR015.

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia, or ALL, is an aggressive blood cancer that progresses quickly without treatment. It is the most common type of ...