Sunnovo Pharma Invests RMB 15 Million in Yuanma Zhiyao to Advance In Vivo CAR-T Therapy Based on Circular mRNA Technology

October 19, 2025, Beijing Sunshine Nohe Drug Research Co., Ltd.(Stock Code: 688621, hereinafter referred to as "SunNovo")Official Announcement: Intends to Subscribe for Byterna Therapeutics Ltd. with 15 Million Yuan of Own Funds(hereinafter referred to as "Byterna Therapeutics")An additional registered capital of 110,600 yuan will be contributed, and after the completion of the transaction, it will hold 8.20% equity in Byterna Therapeutics.

This collaboration focuses on Byterna Therapeutics' Circular Messenger RNA (Circular mRNA) in vivo CAR-T technology.Unlike traditional ex vivo CAR-T therapy, which requires the collection of patients' T cells, modification outside the body, and reinfusion, this technology directly induces immune cells to express chimeric antigen receptors (CAR) in vivo through circular mRNA, achieving the effect of "cell therapy" in the form of a "nucleic acid drug." It is expected to break the commercialization challenges faced by traditional ex vivo CAR-T treatments, such as complex preparation, high costs, and limited applicable populations.

Byterna Therapeutics, founded in June 2023, has quickly become a dark horse in the CAR-T field with its circular mRNA technology. Its core team was jointly established by seasoned industry experts and a diverse group of returned overseas PhDs.

At the technical level, Byterna Therapeutics has three world-leading core technology platforms:

• The byterna.AI platform utilizes algorithms such as generative AI to enable the intelligent design and optimization of circular mRNA drug molecules.

• The cmCAR platform achieves efficient and long-lasting expression of CAR molecules based on traceless modifiable circular mRNA technology, overcoming common industry bottlenecks such as the short half-life of linear mRNA and the drug development risks associated with non-modified circular mRNA.

• The CellectLNP platform boasts industry-leading extrahepatic delivery and in vivo T-cell targeting efficiency, enabling the high-efficiency and high-selectivity generation of CAR-T cells within patients.

Official disclosures show that Byterna Therapeutics has initiated the development of multiple in vivo CAR-T pipelines based on circular mRNA, completed early non-clinical validation, and is currently advancing to the clinical application preparation stage.

Overall, Byterna Therapeutics is focusing on the path of circular mRNA + LNP in vivo CAR-T, demonstrating technological innovation and pipeline potential. However, as it is still in the early stage, relevant clinical and regulatory approvals, as well as production/quality control (CMC) engineering, still need to be validated.

Founded in 2009, SunNovo Pharma (Beijing Sunshine Nohe Drug Research Co., Ltd.) is one of the earlier companies in China to deeply engage in Contract Research Organization (CRO) services.After more than a decade of development, the company's business has expanded from traditional CRO services to a comprehensive layout of "R&D services + pipeline cultivation + new quality industrial chain," gradually forming a dual-driven model of "services + products."Currently, SunNovo has dozens of varieties under research, covering multiple therapeutic areas such as autoimmune diseases, pain management, cardiovascular, central nervous system, oncology, metabolism, and respiratory.

As of 2025, the company's participation in R&D projects has cumulatively achieved 147 clinical approvals or clinical record-filing numbers for pharmaceuticals; one innovative drug has entered Phase III clinical trials and is part of the "National Major Science and Technology Project - Major New Drug Creation Special Project," with another innovative drug entering Phase II clinical trials; 95 marketing authorization application acceptance numbers for pharmaceuticals have been obtained, and six generic drugs have been the first to obtain marketing approval or pass the consistency evaluation.

In terms of operational performance,SunNovo Achieves Revenue of 590 Million Yuan and Net Profit of 130 Million Yuan in the First Half of 2025, with a robust cash flow situation. While maintaining the growth of its core CRO business, the company is extending upstream in the industry chain through equity investments and innovative project incubation. In March 2025, SunNovo joined the BioAsk Industry Innovation Ecosystem, focusing on innovative drug development and collaboration with upstream and downstream companies, strengthening its full-process integrated service capabilities for innovative drugs from discovery to submission.

This investment in Byterna Therapeutics is an extension of SunNovo's "independent innovation + technology transfer" dual-driven strategy. Leveraging Byterna Therapeutics' technological breakthroughs in the intersection of nucleic acid drugs and cell therapy, SunNovo is able to strategically position itself early in the high-growth potential track of in vivo cell therapy, creating a bidirectional synergy from CRO services to technology investment, and from innovative drug development to platform co-construction.

The collaboration between SunNovo and Byterna Therapeutics is not accidental but based on multiple alignments: complementary technologies, resource synergy, and industry trends., which has a clear logical thread behind it.

At the technical level,SunNovo's clinical R&D capabilities and Byterna Therapeutics' circular mRNA platform form a "from lab to clinic" closed loop. Byterna Therapeutics addresses "how to make better drugs," while SunNovo excels at "how to bring drugs to market faster." Its SMO (Site Management Organization) services can accelerate the clinical implementation of pipelines, and its in-house pediatric clinical data bridging research center can also provide foundational support for pediatric CAR-T therapies.

From the industry background,CAR-T and Nucleic Acid Drugs Are in a Critical Bottleneck Period of "Technological Breakthrough but Commercial Lag". According to a Research Nester report, the global CAR-T market size is approximately $5.9 billion in 2024 and is expected to grow to $140.25 billion by 2037, clearly showing the industry's growth potential; however, the high cost of traditional ex vivo CAR-T therapy significantly restricts clinical accessibility — Oppenheimer analyst Hartaj Singh pointed out that currently only about one-fifth of patients who meet the treatment criteria can actually receive the treatment due to financial burden or manufacturing condition limitations, far from unleashing the full potential that the technology should have in terms of commercial penetration.

In the field of nucleic acid drugs, while mRNA technology has demonstrated safety and large-scale application capabilities through COVID-19 vaccines, it faces core challenges in cancer treatment scenarios, such as insufficient delivery efficiency and weak molecular stability. These pain points leave critical room for technological innovation. Targeting this industry dilemma, Byterna Therapeutics focuses on the development of circular RNA-based new drugs, creating nucleic acid drugs that are "safe, effective, accessible, and affordable," and promoting the clinical application of CAR-T therapy in major disease areas.

It is worth noting that,SunNovo's investment also aligns with the trend of the CRO industry extending from service to innovation.According to data from VCBeat, the global CRO market size grew from USD 49 billion in 2017 to USD 97.3 billion in 2024, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.3%. It is projected that the global CRO market will reach USD 118.5 billion by 2026. Amid intensifying competition, leading CROs have entered innovative drug R&D through investments or collaborations. For instance, Tigermed invested in Limin Pharmaceuticals, securing both exit returns and locking in R&D services; Medicyte collaborated with Hengrui Medicine, aiding in the approval of 24 new drug INDs; WuXi AppTec participated in a pan-healthcare fund, focusing on innovative drug opportunities; JOINN Laboratories partnered with Xidian Venture Capital to establish a fund for investing in companies like StarBio.

Looking ahead, with the maturation of circular mRNA and AI-driven drug design technologies, CAR-T therapy is expected to transition from a niche, premium treatment to a widely accessible medication. The collaboration between SunNovo and Byterna Therapeutics represents a forward-looking strategic move in line with this trend.As Byterna Therapeutics' in vivo CAR-T pipeline enters clinical trials and SunNovo's clinical resources continue to empower, this technological resonance still has a longer story to tell.