Vivacta Bio (微滔生物)
Shanghai in vivo CAR-T company spun out of Grit Biotherapeutics, with human data for its T-cell-targeted LNP-mRNA candidate GT801.
1. Core Product / Service
Vivacta Bio (Vivacta Biotechnology Co., Ltd.; 微滔生物科技（上海）有限公司) generates CAR-T cells inside the patient instead of manufacturing them ex vivo. Its platform, inherited from parent Grit Biotherapeutics' CLAMP technology, attaches T-cell-targeting antibodies to the surface of lipid nanoparticles that carry CAR-encoding mRNA, aiming for a repeat-dosable, off-the-shelf therapy [3][4].
Lead asset GT801 is an anti-CD19 in vivo CAR. First-in-human results from an investigator-initiated Phase 1 study were presented at ASH 2025 (data cutoff 2025-11-30): two non-Hodgkin lymphoma patients, treated without lymphodepleting chemotherapy (three doses of 0.5 mg and four doses of 1.5 mg respectively), showed high CAR expression in circulating T cells, re-expansion after each dose, no CAR expression in monocytes, deep B-cell depletion in blood, bone marrow and lymph nodes, and partial responses by week 4 after the last infusion [3]. Further data in B-cell malignancy and autoimmune patients were reported at AACR 2026 [1].
2. Target Users & Pain Points
- Patients with B-cell cancers and B-cell-driven autoimmune disease who face the cost, manufacturing delay and lymphodepletion toxicity of autologous CAR-T.
- Pain solved: an mRNA-based, redosable product removes apheresis, cell manufacturing and conditioning chemotherapy — the main barriers to using CAR-T beyond specialist centers.
3. Competitive Landscape
| Player | Positioning | Vs. Vivacta |
|---|---|---|
| byterna | Shanghai circular-mRNA in vivo CAR-T (BR101 in IIT) | Same modality and city; circular vs linear mRNA, dual- vs single-target |
| Global in vivo CAR-T developers (LNP and viral-vector) | Several acquired by or partnered with large pharma in 2025 | Vivacta has early human data; Western peers have deeper capital |
| Autologous CD19 CAR-T (approved products) | Established efficacy in lymphoma | Vivacta's pitch is no manufacturing and no lymphodepletion |
4. Unique Observations
- China's IIT route as a speed advantage: both Vivacta and byterna reached humans via investigator-initiated trials within about a year, ahead of formal IND-based Phase 1 — a structural edge for in vivo CAR-T in China [1].
- Spin-off rather than de novo: the platform was carved out of Grit (a TIL company) into a separately financed entity in June 2025, a common pattern among 2023+ Chinese biotechs [1][2].
- Wet-lab model (partly unresolved): a Qiming partner credited Grit's "FTE model" with improving R&D efficiency, but the model was not explained, so whether Vivacta still shares the parent's lab platform or runs its own is unconfirmed [1]. Series A use-of-proceeds explicitly includes expanding the R&D team and building the platform, which points toward an independent lab [1][4]. Whether R&D sits in Shanghai (registered) or Beijing (Grit's base) is also unconfirmed [1].
5. Financials / Funding
| Round | Date | Amount | Investors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Angel | 2025-11-05 | Over RMB 100M | Qiming (lead); Apricot Capital, B Capital, Beijing Shunxi [1][6] |
| Series A + A+ | Announced Apr 2026 | Over US$50M combined | Series A led by Loyal Valley Capital; A+ led by Decheng Capital; OrbiMed, Hankang Capital, Eisai Innovation, C&D Emerging; existing Qiming, Shunxi, Apricot [4][5][8] |
- Proceeds are earmarked for GT801 clinical trials, regulatory filings, R&D team growth and global operations [4].
6. People & Relationships
- Founder & CEO: Dr. Yarong Liu (刘雅容) — University of Southern California background, 10+ years in cell and gene therapy [1][3].
- Parent / origin: Grit Biotherapeutics (沙砾生物, Beijing; founded 2019, lead TIL product GT101 in Phase 2 pivotal studies); Grit CSO Prof. Wang Pin presented GT801 data at ASH 2025 [1][3].
- Founded: 2025-06-25 [1].
- Investors: Qiming, Loyal Valley Capital, Decheng Capital, OrbiMed, Eisai Innovation, B Capital, Apricot Capital.
- Peers: byterna, vivatides.