In vivo CAR engineering revs up

Orna’s megaround is the latest cash infusion into the growing movement to engineer immune cells in vivo, bypassing the challenges of harvesting, manipulating and adoptively transferring cells.

At least seven private companies are developing preclinical CAR constructs that transform a patient’s circulating immune cells into treatments for cancer and other indications, opening the door to cheaper and safer versions of cell therapies by removing the requirement for lymphodepletion and transplantation of cells modified ex vivo...