Gracell has enrolled the first patient in phase I/II clinical study of GC007g, an allogeneic donor-derived anti-CD19 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy for the treatment of B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL). The CAR T cells were manufactured using T cells from a human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-matched healthy donor.

The company also entered into a manufacturing service agreement with Lonza, which has agreed to manufacture Gracell's FasTCAR-enabled CAR T-cell product candidates in the U.S. The candidates target difficult to treat cancers. The next-day clinical manufacturing platform can improve cell production efficiency to enable cost savings and increase the accessibility of cell therapies for cancer patients.

Gracell secures funding to advance CAR T therapies
Gracell Biotechnologies has secured $100 million in series C funding to expand its chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapies.