On June 9, 2026, Chengdu Weisijin Biotech entered into a strategic collaboration and licensing agreement with Cartesian Therapeutics. The two parties will leverage mRNA and targeted lipid nanoparticle (tLNP) technologies,Co-develop in vivo CAR-T and T-cell engager (TCE) therapies for the treatment of autoimmune diseases。

Under the agreement, Wisecell is responsible for early-stage R&D, while Cartesian Therapeutics undertakes subsequent global clinical development and commercialization efforts, with payments including an upfront fee, milestone payments, and sales royalties made on a project basis.The first collaborative project between the two parties focuses on the BCMA target, developing in vivo CAR-T therapy for the treatment of generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG)., and additional CAR constructs and TCE programs will be expanded in the future.

What makes this collaboration noteworthy is that both parties bring clinically validated core capabilities. Cartesian’s flagship product, Descartes-08, is an autologous CAR-T therapy targeting BCMA, which has advanced to Phase III clinical trials for generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG), positioning it as a leader in the field of autoimmune CAR-T therapies.

Weijin Biologics possesses an LNP/tLNP delivery platform that has been validated in human clinical trials. The platform has completed application verification across multiple projects, accumulating data from hundreds of subjects (administered via intramuscular injection or intravenous infusion), thereby demonstrating favorable safety and tolerability profiles.

Weizijin’s collaboration with Cartesian Therapeutics is not an isolated incident, but rather a microcosm of the explosive growth in the global in vivo CAR-T sector. Over the past 18 months, multinational corporations (MNCs) have systematically secured strategic positions in this field, adopting an approach akin to “aggressive acquisition.”

• Eli Lilly: In February 2026, it acquired Orna Therapeutics (circular RNA + LNP delivery) for $2.4 billion, and in April, it acquired Kelonia (lentiviral delivery) for $7 billion, investing nearly $10 billion in the in vivo CAR-T sector within just 60 days;

• AbbVie: In June 2025, acquired Capstan Therapeutics for $2.1 billion, obtaining its tLNP platform and core asset CPTX2309;

• BMS: In October 2025, acquired Orbital Therapeutics for $1.5 billion, securing the circular RNA CAR-T therapy OTX-201;

• AstraZeneca: Acquired EsoBiotec for $1 billion to enter the in vivo CAR-T sector;

• Gilead Sciences: Its subsidiary, Kite Pharma, acquired Interius BioTherapeutics for $350 million and entered into a collaboration with Puruijin Biologics valued at up to $1.6 billion.

It is evident from this collaboration with Wuxi Jin that Chinese in vivo CAR-T companies are transitioning from "followers" to "providers of core capabilities."

At the pipeline level, data from DXY Insight shows that approximately half of the 182 global in vivo CAR-T pipelines under development originate from China.

In terms of clinical progress, CSPC’s SYS6055 injection received implicit approval for clinical trials from the NMPA in January 2026, becoming the first in vivo CAR-T product approved for clinical development in China.

In terms of global expansion of technology, WiseCell is not an isolated case. In 2025, Kite, a subsidiary of Gilead Sciences, reached a collaboration agreement with Puruijin Biologics worth up to $1.64 billion, serving as another testament to the international recognition of China’s in vivo CAR-T platforms.

The 2026 AACR Annual Meeting served as a concentrated showcase for China’s in vivo CAR-T capabilities. Institutions such as EMBiotech, Weitao Bio/Grit Bio, and Westlake University presented multiple studies, with targets spanning established antigens like BCMA and CD19, as well as emerging directions such as DLL3 (for small cell lung cancer) and CD13 (for acute myeloid leukemia). Delivery strategies encompassed various approaches, including lentiviral vectors, T cell-targeted lipid nanoparticles (LNPs), red blood cell-mediated delivery, and circular RNA.

As planned, Wisgen and Cartesian Therapeutics will initiate Phase I clinical trials in the second half of 2026, with the first-in-human data expected to be announced in the first half of 2027. If the data are positive, Cartesian Therapeutics plans to expand this program to multiple autoimmune indications and advance it into clinical development in the United States.

At that time, this collaboration will not only validate the technological platforms of both companies but also provide critical evidence for the transition of in vivo CAR-T from a capital market narrative to clinical reality. For China’s in vivo CAR-T industry, this may well be another highlight moment.

References:

1.https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/nGYgXy9StjSF0WTJbiuJ9Q

2. Pipeline Surges by Over 2000%! In Vivo CAR-T Takes Off (WeChat Official Account: DXY Insight Database)

3. In Vivo CAR-T: Capital Has Arrived, But Efficacy Remains Unfulfilled? (WeChat Official Account: TongXieYi)

4. Other Publicly Available Information

Cover image source: PharmaEra

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