CAR-T Pioneer Kartos Therapeutics Secures Tens of Millions in Series A Funding to Advance Solid Tumor Therapies

Nanjing CART Medical Technologies, Ltd., an innovative leader in domestic CAR-T cell therapy for solid tumors, recently announced the completion of its tens-of-millions-yuan Series A financing round. This round was exclusively invested by the renowned healthcare fund YuanBio Venture Capital. The infusion of capital will help the company accelerate its exploration of CAR-T cell therapy for solid tumors, an untapped gold mine.

Nanjing CART Medical Technologies, Ltd. is a high-tech company dedicated to the research and development and application of novel immunocellular therapies. It possesses high-barrier technological platforms, including innovative CAR structure design, viral vector production, and cell culture. With a focus on the R&D and application of tumor immunotherapy technologies, the company simultaneously translates the latest international advances in tumor immunotherapy and actively promotes innovative therapeutic approaches, providing cutting-edge precision treatment solutions for cancer patients. The company’s founder, Dr. Wang Enxiu, hails from the University of Pennsylvania in the United States. As a core member of Professor Carl June’s team—a pioneer in CAR-T therapy—Dr. Wang made significant contributions to the successful clinical application of CAR-T technology in the U.S., including the landmark treatment of pediatric leukemia patient Emily Whitehead. He also holds an internationally leading position in the R&D and application of next-generation CAR-T therapies for solid tumors. Since its establishment in 2017, Nanjing CART Medical has formed an R&D landscape dominated by CAR-T technology, with parallel advancement of multiple projects including CAR-NK and CAR-macrophage therapies. The company has built a robust product pipeline and is collaborating with numerous hospitals across China to conduct clinical studies targeting various solid tumors.

Dr. Wang Enxiu, Founder of CART Medical: Capital Support Will Accelerate the Development of CAR-T Products for Solid Tumors

CAR-T cell therapies have demonstrated significant efficacy in the clinical treatment of hematologic malignancies; however, most current CAR-T products show limited effectiveness against solid tumors. Dr. Wang pointed out that this is primarily attributable to CAR structural design. The tumor microenvironment in solid tumors is far more complex than that in hematologic malignancies, and simply applying traditional CAR structures without technological innovation fails to yield clinical benefits. Identifying this unmet need and critical challenge, Nanjing CART Medical Technologies, Ltd. has dedicated itself to developing CAR-T products for solid tumor treatment. The company has established a CAR structure platform capable of overcoming the solid tumor microenvironment, which has already been validated in preclinical studies. With the recognition and investment from YuanBio Venture Capital in this funding round, Nanjing CART Medical Technologies will further accelerate its strategic layout and development in the field of immune cell therapy. The funds will be primarily allocated to the regulatory filing and registration of solid tumor CAR-T products, as well as the research and development of immune cell-based therapeutics. Empowered by this capital support, Nanjing CART Medical Technologies aspires to become an internationally leading Chinese enterprise in the field of cancer immunotherapy.

Dr. Lin Yi, Managing Partner of YuanBio Venture Capital: Immunotherapy is Ascendant; Solid Tumor CAR-T Therapy Holds Broad Prospects

Dr. Lin stated that with the approval and market launch of two cell therapy products in the United States, cell therapy has attracted significant capital investment in recent years. However, CAR-T products currently suffer from serious homogenization, with the focus remaining predominantly on mature hematologic malignancies. Although the market size for solid tumor treatments far exceeds that of hematologic malignancies, there is a scarcity of domestic enterprises willing to develop CAR-T products for solid tumors due to a lack of technological breakthroughs and innovation. YuanBio Venture Capital is pleased to see the founders of Nanjing CART Medical Technologies, Ltd. leverage their profound understanding of cell therapy to facilitate technology transfer in China and establish a robust product pipeline targeting various solid tumors through their proprietary technology platform. We look forward to working together with the company to contribute Chinese strength to the development of CAR-T therapies for solid tumors.

(Editor: Ran Yifang)