Biotalks | Spotlight on γδ T Cells: Qinghui Liannuo Accelerates Development of Innovative Therapies for Solid Tumors

May 13, 2025 17:34 CST Updated 17:34

Unicet Biotech

Developer of γδ T Cell Therapeutics

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Recently, a company within the Zhongguan Village Life Science ParkQinghui LianuoSelf-developedAllogeneic Universal CAR-γδ T Cell Drug QH104A Targeting B7H3 Officially Receives FDA Orphan Drug Designation in the United States, used for the treatment of malignant glioma (Click here to view more）。

According to the public information from Tsinghui Lianuo,QH104A adopts a unique γδ T cell modification strategy., which can simultaneously identify tumor surface antigens and specific metabolites, has demonstrated good therapeutic effects on various tumors in preclinical studies. Meanwhile, this product is an off-the-shelf universal cell drug, with production costs significantly lower than autologous cell therapy, offering better clinical accessibility.

Emerging γδ T-cell Therapy

γδ T cells were first discovered in 1984, and as research has progressed, these cells are considered to play a crucial role in various aspects of immunobiology and immunopathology. The main cell subset, Vγ9Vδ2 T cells, plays an important role in the immune surveillance of tumor cells and pathogens.

Moreover,Unlike αβ T cells, which specifically recognize peptide antigens presented by HLA molecules on the surface of target cells through TCR,γδ T Cells Recognize Target Cells by Binding to BTN3A1, a Phosphoantigen-presenting Butyrophilin, thereforeγδ T cells do not cause graft-versus-host reaction,Can be directly reinfused into allogeneic recipients without any modification.。

Antigen Recognition Mechanism of γδ T Cells

In addition, compared with αβ T cells, γδ T cellsInfiltrating in a variety of tissues, which can rapidly respond to targets and release effector cytokines; γδ T cells for tumorsRecognition and killing do not rely on the expression of a single antigen., which expands the range of targets available for killing tumor cells and reduces the chance of tumor immune escape caused by single-antigen loss.

Although significant breakthroughs have been made in current immunotherapy, CAR-T cell therapy dominated by αβ T cells is limited in the treatment of solid tumors and allogeneic use. Therefore, the natural advantages of γδ T cells and their potential in the treatment of solid tumors and even some infectious diseases have prompted pharmaceutical companies to make arrangements in this field.

Leader in γδ T Cell Therapy —— Qinghui Lianuo

Qinghui Lianuo was officially established in September 2018.Since its establishment, the company has been firmly committed to the scientific foundation of γδ T cell immune recognition mechanisms, and has unwaveringly made the research, development, and application of immunotherapy technology a breakthrough point for corporate growth.After years of dedicated research and development, Qinghui Lienal has achieved remarkable results in product development.

Currently, the company has developed a pipeline around γδ T cells, including off-the-shelf allogeneic cell therapies, small-molecule drugs targeting new pathways, and antibody drugs for novel targets. Multiple allogeneic cell therapy drugs have advanced to the human clinical trial stage, demonstrating the potent therapeutic potential of γδ T cells in areas such as brain tumors, lung cancer, and acute myeloid leukemia.Among them,QH104A shows particularly outstanding performance in the field of malignant glioma treatment.。

Glioblastoma isOne of the main types of malignant glioma, characterized by a high likelihood of recurrence after treatment and extremely poor patient prognosis., the five-year survival rate of patients is only 6.8%, and the clinical treatment needs are extremely urgent.. And Qinghui Lianuo QH104AThe latest research results show，When 7 cases of high-grade recurrent glioblastoma (rGBM) patientsOnce a month intrathecal injection of QH104A，The objective response rate was 42.9% in 7 patients.The disease control rate was 100%.。

QH104A also demonstrated good persistence,Thirty days after administration, the injected cells could still be detected by flow cytometry and qPCR.. Preliminary stratified analysis found that clinical efficacy was positively correlated with B7H3 expression levels. The researchers believe that QH104 has good safety and shows promising clinical potential for treating B7H3-positive rGBM patients.

On March 19, 2025, QH104A officially received FDA Orphan Drug Designation for the treatment of malignant glioma, further demonstrating the breakthrough potential of this therapy in addressing unmet global clinical needs.

γδ T Cell Therapy May Open a New Chapter in Disease Treatment

Compared to the fieryαβ T cellsResearch in the field of γδ T cells may seem relatively "quiet," but Dr. Yonghui Zhang, founder of Qinghui Lianuo, stated in an interview, "Every type of cell has its own use. Based on my years of scientific research, understanding of the properties of γδ T cells, and the preclinical and IIT data results our team has obtained so far, I firmly believe that allogeneic off-the-shelf γδ T cells have broad application prospects in the treatment of solid tumors and infectious diseases. Their scope of application is complementary to that of αβ T cells."

Currently, several γδ T cell therapy companies have been established internationally, including Adapte, GammaDelta Therapeutics, Gadeta, and In8bio. Recently,Qinghui Lianuo Announces Completion of New Round of Financial FinancingAlso injected strong momentum and confidence into the company and the field of γδ T cell research.It is reported that the proceeds of this financing will be mainly used to accelerate the clinical trial process of QH104A and make every effort to promote the early market launch of this product.

Looking ahead, although the development of cancer immunotherapies using γδ T cells still faces many challenges, as scientists continue to develop better tools that allow for more targeted modifications of γδ T cells, these approaches will bring effective new treatments for a range of serious diseases. Meanwhile, companies that previously invested in the γδ T cell field will surely ride this wave of opportunity and soar.