Kite Pharma Inks $1.6B Deal with China's Pregene for In Vivo CAR-T Development

Gilead Sciences' subsidiary Kite Pharma has announced a significant partnership with Chinese biotech Pregene Biopharma, marking another major investment in the burgeoning field of in vivo CAR-T therapy. The collaboration, valued at up to $1.64 billion, underscores the growing interest in next-generation cell therapies despite recent pullbacks from other pharmaceutical giants.

Deal Structure and Financial Details

Kite has committed to an upfront payment of $120 million to Pregene, with the potential for an additional $1.52 billion in milestone payments. The agreement also includes royalties on future product sales, though specific percentages were not disclosed. This substantial investment follows Kite's recent $350 million acquisition of Interius BioTherapeutics, further solidifying its position in the in vivo CAR-T space.

Strategic Focus on In Vivo Therapies

The partnership aims to accelerate the development of in vivo CAR-T therapies, which could potentially overcome limitations associated with traditional ex vivo approaches. Kite's spokesperson emphasized that the collaboration "enables us to advance clinical proof-of-concept studies for in vivo therapy more quickly by integrating complementary technologies and expertise."

While specific indications were not announced, Pregene's co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer, Zhang Jishuai, Ph.D., indicated that the companies aim to bring transformative medicines to patients "especially in oncology, autoimmune diseases and other areas where innovation is urgently needed."

Industry Trends and Competitive Landscape

This deal comes amid a broader industry trend of significant investments in Chinese biotechnology collaborations. IQVIA reports that biopharma companies invested $48.5 billion in Chinese partnerships during the first half of 2025 alone, surpassing the total investment of $44.8 billion made in the previous year.

However, the landscape for cell therapies remains dynamic, with some major pharmaceutical companies retreating from the field. Takeda recently announced its withdrawal from cell therapy investments, resulting in 137 job losses, while Novo Nordisk also revealed plans to exit the space as part of a broader restructuring initiative.

In contrast, Bristol Myers Squibb has doubled down on cell therapies, recently acquiring Orbital Therapeutics for $1.5 billion to bolster its CAR-T portfolio with in vivo RNA therapies.

As the pharmaceutical industry continues to evolve, the substantial investments by companies like Kite Pharma and Bristol Myers Squibb in next-generation cell therapies highlight the potential of these innovative approaches to address unmet medical needs and reshape the future of cancer treatment.