CAR-T Therapy Firms Announce Manufacturing Expansion and Investment Activity

CARsgen Therapeutics Holdings Limited has signed strategic cooperation agreements with Shanghai Jingong Enterprise to establish an advanced commercial manufacturing base for CAR T-cell products in Shanghai, with a total investment not exceeding RMB370 million. The collaboration supports the commercialization of CARsgen's marketed CAR T-cell product and a product currently in regulatory review, while laying the foundation for future mass production of allogeneic CAR T-cell products.

The move aligns with the commercialization progress of multiple CAR T-cell products, including the marketed product zevorcabtagene autoleucel and the CAR T-cell product satricabtagene autoleucel (R&D code "CT041") for solid tumors, which is currently in the new drug application (NDA) stage. It also provides a foundation for future mass production of allogeneic CAR T-cell products such as CT0596 and CT1190B. The transaction requires no significant capital expenditure from CARsgen in the early stage, preserving cash flow for core research and development and market expansion. A repurchase mechanism ensures the company can fully acquire asset control after long-term operation.

Meanwhile, investment firm HarbourVest Partners disclosed a new position in Generate Biomedicines (NASDAQ: GENB), acquiring 1,722,210 shares in the first quarter of 2026. The estimated transaction value was $21.03 million based on quarterly average pricing. The position was valued at $21.53 million as of March 31, 2026, encompassing both share purchases and price changes.

Generate Biomedicines develops protein-based therapeutics, including GB-0895 for severe asthma, GB-4362 as an MMAE payload neutralizer, and GB-5267, a MUC16 CAR-T cell therapy. The company operates a platform-driven business model that leverages machine learning and computational biology to design novel protein drugs. Its lead candidate, GB-0895, is advancing through Phase 3 trials for severe asthma, while oncology candidates GB-4362 and GB-5267 are expected to begin key clinical activities later this year.

Generate Biomedicines ended the first quarter with $516.6 million in cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities after raising $369.3 million in its March IPO, providing an expected runway into the first half of 2028. Revenue slipped to $7.2 million from $8.8 million a year earlier, and the net loss widened to $61.7 million as the company ramped up investment in late-stage clinical programs. As of the reported date, Generate Biomedicines shares were priced at $13.12, down about 12.5% from their February IPO price of $16 per share, with a market capitalization of $2 billion.