Exclusive: AI-Powered In Vivo CAR-T! DeliNova Therapeutics Closes RMB 100 Million Pre-A Round to Accelerate Next-Generation "AI + In-Vivo CAR-T" Core Pipeline

VCBeat has learned that DeliNova Therapeutics recently announced the completion of a Pre-A round worth RMB 100 million. New investors in the round include Proxima Ventures, IN Capital, and GAGE Capital, while existing shareholders Legend Capital, Hongfeng Investment, and Hanyuan Asset increased their investments in the same round.

The proceeds will be used mainly to advance preclinical development and regulatory filing of in vivo CAR-T pipelines for hematologic malignancies and solid tumors, to continue improving a generative AI-driven full-process closed-loop technology platform for in vivo CAR-T, and to support the layout of subsequent innovative pipelines.

Since its founding in May 2025, DeliNova Therapeutics has raised close to RMB 200 million in total. Its core executive team has complete experience in CAR-T cell therapy and gene therapy product development, covering the full chain of capabilities including AI molecular generation, virus engineering, vector delivery, cell therapy R&D and translation, process and analytical method development, clinical research operations, and corporate management.

On the technology platform side, building on engineered lentiviral vector modification and T-cell-specific delivery technologies, DeliNova Therapeutics has established an integrated, full-process closed-loop in vivo CAR-T platform combining "AI generation plus rapid wet-lab validation"; this is the core barrier that sets the company apart from peers.

The company applies generative AI systems to several key steps of in vivo CAR-T, including de novo design of envelope proteins, generation of novel nanobodies, precise prediction of antigen epitopes, optimization of CAR gene expression and structure, and the design and screening of costimulatory factors and armoring molecules.

This "AI-native" platform has achieved a breakthrough in the design and validation of a novel AI-generated fusogen: the company used the protein to complete virus design and preclinical validation, applied it to a next-generation in vivo CAR-T candidate, and has now obtained key efficacy and safety validation in clinical studies.

In addition, the company continues to use its proprietary AI platform to explore novel envelope proteins from viruses of different species and to carry out dynamic, iterative optimization of CAR molecule sequences, feeding experimental data back into the models to build a virtuous "AI <-> lab" flywheel that supports the development of candidates against multiple targets and indications.

In process and quality research, given the frontier nature of in vivo CAR drug products, the company conducts systematic studies in areas such as lentiviral vector manufacturing and formulation process development, characterization of viral particle envelope features, process characterization, and quality control; it has completed the manufacture and testing of multiple batches and accumulated extensive experience in key product characterization and clinical responsiveness/efficacy. This work lays a solid foundation for clinical pharmacy support, subsequent process scale-up, and the refinement of quality evaluation methods.

In pipeline development, the company focuses on oncology indications and is accelerating its in vivo CAR-T R&D layout. After the first pipeline entered an investigator-initiated trial (IIT), a next-generation product pipeline has also entered the IIT stage, forming a pattern of multiple clinical pipelines advancing in parallel.

The company continues to accumulate early human study data to support product development and regulatory filing. Targeting core technical challenges such as clinical relapse, antigen escape, durable remission, and deep response, it has achieved multiple key technical breakthroughs in the development of multi-target and armored products, and is using its AI platform to accelerate iterative optimization.

At present, the company is actively advancing preclinical studies and IND filing for two pipelines in hematologic malignancies and solid tumors.

This round has drawn joint support from new and existing investors, reflecting the market's strong recognition of DeliNova Therapeutics' "AI + in vivo CAR-T" technology route, R&D progress, and commercial potential. In the future, the company will accelerate development of its core pipelines, continue to drive in vivo CAR-T innovation with AI, and translate innovative results into clinical application, committed to improving the accessibility of cell therapy so that more patients can benefit from this revolutionary therapy.