Grit Biotechnology Co., Ltd. (Grit Bio), a clinical-stage biotech company focused on novel immunotherapies, announced today that it will present three groundbreaking research programs at the upcoming American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy (ASGCT) 28th Annual Meeting in New Orleans from May 13-17, 2025.
The presentations, developed in collaboration with Vitalgen BioPharma Co., Ltd. (Vitalgen), include one oral presentation and two poster sessions highlighting significant advances in cancer immunotherapy and precision delivery technologies.
Breakthrough Immunotherapy Technologies
Grit Bio's presentations will showcase three innovative preclinical programs that represent potential paradigm shifts in cancer treatment:
The first program features an APC-targeted neoantigen cancer vaccine utilizing lipid nanoparticle (LNP) technology for enhanced systemic delivery of mRNA vaccines. Dr. Pin Wang, Chief Scientific Officer of Grit Biotechnology, will deliver an oral presentation titled "APC-Targeted LNP Enables Systemic Delivery of Neoantigen mRNA Vaccines and Enhanced Antigen-Specific T Cell Responses" on Thursday, May 15th.
The second program introduces a novel approach to CAR-T therapy with non-viral nanoparticle-directed in vivo delivery. This innovative technology, called CLAMP (Cell-targeted Lipid-based Amplification of mRNA Payload), enables T cell-targeted mRNA delivery without viral vectors. The poster presentation, "In Vivo CAR-T Therapy Powered by Novel CLAMP Technology for T cell-Targeted mRNA Delivery," will be displayed on Wednesday, May 14th.
The third program demonstrates advancements in tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) therapy through lipid nanoparticle-mediated CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing. This approach aims to enhance both the production and functional potential of TILs, potentially improving outcomes for solid tumor patients. This research will be presented in a poster titled "Enhancing Production and Functional Potential of Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocytes via Lipid Nanoparticle-Mediated CRISPR/Cas9 Gene Editing" on Thursday, May 15th.
Strategic Collaboration Driving Innovation
The research programs represent the fruits of a strategic collaboration between Grit Bio and Vitalgen BioPharma, combining expertise in immunotherapy development and precision delivery technologies.
"Through a strategic collaboration with Vitalgen, we are pioneering next-generation immunotherapies and precision delivery technologies. This synergy accelerates the development of advanced therapies with transformative improvements in safety and efficacy. We are now expanding those innovations toward global clinical implementation," said Dr. Yarong Liu, founder and Chief Executive Officer of Grit Biotechnology.
Advanced Clinical Pipeline
Beyond these preclinical programs, Grit Bio has established a robust clinical pipeline focused on TIL therapies for solid tumors. The company's lead candidate, GT101, is currently in pivotal Phase II clinical trials and represents the first TIL therapy to enter registrational clinical trials.
Additionally, GT201, described as the first TIL therapy with membrane-bound IL-15 complex, has received Investigational New Drug (IND) clearance in both the United States and China, positioning it for clinical development in multiple markets.
Proprietary Technology Platforms
Grit Bio's innovation is built upon several proprietary technology platforms, including:
- StemTexp® stemness TIL expansion platform
- StaViral® stably virus transfected cell lines
- ImmuT Finder® immune modulator target discovery platform
- KOReTIL® high-efficiency gene knock-out system
These platforms have enabled the company to develop a series of next-generation gene-edited TIL therapies targeting solid tumors, an area of significant unmet medical need.
Company Backgrounds
Founded in 2019, Grit Biotechnology has quickly established itself as an innovative biopharmaceutical company focused on immune cell treatments for oncology. The company has secured multiple rounds of equity financing from renowned venture capital funds and has built an extensive R&D pipeline centered on TIL therapies.
Vitalgen BioPharma, founded in 2020 and headquartered in Shanghai, China, is a patient-focused biotechnology company developing transformative gene therapies. The company operates state-of-the-art facilities compliant with both China GMP and US cGMP standards, focusing on both rare and common diseases while enabling partners to leverage its technologies across multiple therapeutic areas.
The ASGCT presentations represent an important milestone in the companies' collaborative efforts to advance novel immunotherapies with the potential to transform cancer treatment paradigms.
