AstraZeneca Bets Big on China's CAR-T 'Golden Target' GPC3, with Local Players Like CARsgen and JW Therapeutics Accelerating Their Own Pipelines

Jan 20, 2026 18:11 CST Updated 18:11

AstraZeneca

Pharmaceutical Technology Research and Development Provider

Oricell Therapeutics

Developer of Tumor Immunocyte Products

JW Therapeutics

Developer of Cellular Immunotherapy Products

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Quick Read: AstraZeneca Secures China Rights for C-CAR031, a Novel CAR-T from CBMG, Fully Betting on GPC3-Targeted Liver Cancer Cell Therapy. Latest clinical data shows an objective response rate of 56.5% and a disease control rate of 91.3%. Chinese pharmaceutical companies are making simultaneous efforts, with Qrigincell Therapeutics, CARsgen Therapeutics, and JW Therapeutics pushing forward the clinical progress of their respective GPC3 CAR-T products, competing in the new track of liver cancer treatment. Local innovative forces are moving from following to leading globally.

1Month19On [date], CIBOMAN Biotechnology Group announced that AstraZeneca will acquire its investigationalGPC3Armored TypeCAR-TTherapyC-CAR031InRemaining in China50%Rights. According to the agreement, CBMG is expected to obtain a total amount of up to6.3In exchange for hundreds of millions of dollars, AstraZeneca has obtained exclusive global rights to develop, manufacture, and commercialize this product.

This transaction is considered asBoth Parties2023Year12The Continuation of Monthly Collaboration — By then, AstraZeneca had already achievedC-CAR031All rights in markets outside of China. This acquisition not only demonstrates AstraZeneca's continued optimism towards China's innovation capabilities but also further ignites domestic enterprises within China.GPC3The R&D Boom on This "Golden Target".

As products from companies such as Oricell Therapeutics, CARsgen Therapeutics, and JW Therapeutics achieve clinical progress, a liver cancer cell therapy competition led by China's indigenous innovation power has quietly begun.

Why is GPC3 the "Golden Target"?

Globally,Hepatocellular CarcinomaStill a Serious Health Challenge——China accounts for approximately half of the global new cases each year, with poor prognosis for advanced patients and clinical needs far from being met.

Glypican-3（GPC3) In70%Highly expressed in the above hepatocellular carcinoma, but hardly present in normal adult tissues, and thus considered as solid tumors.CAR-TOne of the most promising targets in the field. This“Tumor Specificity”MakingCAR-TCells can precisely identify and eliminate cancer cells while maximizing the protection of normal tissues.

Cibiem'sC-CAR031It is precisely the armored type developed based on this target.CAR-TTherapy, which is equipped withdnTGFβRIIArmor can block the inhibitory factors in the tumor microenvironment.TGFβSignal, thereby enhancingTCell activity.

In2024At the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology in 2022, CBMG announcedC-CAR031TheIThe results of the clinical trial have attracted widespread attention in the industry. The study included24Example received1To6Patients with advanced liver cancer undergoing line therapy, among which83.3%There are metastatic lesions outside the liver. As of2024Year3Month14Data as of the day shows:In patients at all dose levels, the objective response rate reached56.5%, with a high disease control rate of91.3%，91.3%The tumor burden of the patients was reduced.

In the high-dose group, the objective response rate further increased to75.0%Median follow-up9.03At months, the estimated median overall survival is11.14months. In terms of safety, no dose-limiting toxicity was observed, and the majority of cytokine release syndrome cases were1~2Level, Only1For example:3Grade, and no immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome occurred.

Chinese Pharmaceutical Companies Compete for GPC3 Highlights

C-CAR031The deal is not an isolated case; it reflects an increasingly fierce competitive landscape dominated by local innovative forces. Multiple Chinese biotechnology companies are actively striving for a voice in the global liver cancer cell therapy field, relying on differentiated technology platforms and clinical strategies.

Qrigincell Therapeutics isC-CAR031The most direct competitor.1Month12Recently, Oricell Therapeutics completed7000Million USDC1round of financing, demonstrating the capital market's high recognition of its technical strength. Its core productOri-C101Similarly, it is a targetedGPC3AutologousCAR-TTherapy, aimed at treating advanced hepatocellular carcinoma.

The development strategy of this product is highly aggressive. Public information shows,Ori-C101Completed investigator-initiated (IIT) and registrabilityIPhase clinical trial, and the pivotal Phase II clinical trial is about to be launched. The company's management publicly stated,Ori-C101"Expected to become the world's first approved treatment for hepatocellular carcinomaCAR-T"Drug." This statement directly corresponds toC-CAR031The path of international cooperation and development highlights the firm determination of local companies to achieve the global first launch of their self-innovated products. In addition, Oricell Therapeutics has also laid out plans for more cutting-edge secretory technologies.CAR-T（OriC902) and in vivo generation (in vivo）CAR-TTechnology platform, showcasing its long-term vision in the next-generation cell therapy field.

CARsgen Therapeutics as a Chinese solid tumorCAR-TPioneer in the field, itsGPC3ProductCT011Chose a differentiated clinical positioning. Unlike the aforementioned two, which mainly target advanced-stage patients,CT011The latest clinical approval targets post-surgery patients with a high risk of recurrence.IIIaPatients with advanced liver cancer.

2024Year1Monthly and2026Year1Month, National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) were successively approvedCT011New drug clinical trials for this adjuvant treatment indication (IND) Application. This marksCAR-TThe exploration of therapies is extending from end-line treatment to earlier post-operative recurrence prevention stages, which is expected to significantly expand the eligible patient population.CT011It is also historically significant —2019Year obtainedINDIs the first in China targeting solid tumorsCAR-TClinical Trial Approval. The Chief Medical Officer of CARsgen Therapeutics once revealed that in their early research, patients with advanced liver cancer had achieved more than seven years of continuous disease-free survival.Record, forGPC3 CAR-TProvided precious cases for long-term efficacy.

JW Therapeutics inGPC3Field LayoutJWATM204AndJWATM214Two candidate products. According to the pipeline diagram on their official website, both are currently in clinical stages.IPeriod Phase.

Screenshot source: JW Therapeutics official website

These two products represent different technological pathways:JWATM204Is a based onARTEMIS TInnovative Cell Platform DevelopmentTCell therapy, preliminary studies show high affinity and high specificity;JWATM214Then, on this basis, it further combinesLyellThe company's anti-TCell exhaustion technology, through expressioncJunProtein DelayTCell function exhaustion aims to achieve more durable anti-tumor activity. JW Therapeutics' strategy focuses on leveraging its technical platform advantages to conduct both in-depth and extensive exploration of the same target.

As the industry battle rages on, the U.S. National Cancer Institute (NCI) as the representative of top scientific research institutions, are committed to overcomingGPC3 CAR-TThe fundamental scientific challenge of therapy.NCIA study aimed to evaluate the simultaneous expression of interleukin-15（IL-15) andIL-21Armored TypeGPC3 CAR-TCells, in order to break through the tumor microenvironment suppression and enhanceTCell survival, expansion, and long-term efficacy. These cutting-edge mechanistic studies provide crucial source innovation support for the continuous iteration of products.

China inGPC3TargetCAR-TIn the development of therapies, China has moved from the early stages of following and running neck-and-neck to a new phase of global leadership, participating with high-quality clinical data and differentiated innovation strategies. The success of these local innovative forces will not only bring new hope for a cure to liver cancer patients worldwide but is also reshaping the innovative landscape of the global cell therapy industry.

Proofread by: Chen Lina

Layout: Li Wanwan

Reviewed by: Ma Fei, Chen Huijun