Tempest partners with Senlang on CD7-targeted in vivo CAR-T for autoimmune disease

Tempest Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: TPST) announced on July 21, 2026 a collaboration with Hebei Senlang Biotechnology Co., Ltd. to develop TPST-4003, described as a next-generation in vivo CAR-T candidate combining proprietary CD7-targeted mRNA/LNP delivery with a dual-target CD19/BCMA CAR construct designed to enable broad B-cell lineage depletion and immune reset for autoimmune and oncology indications.¹

Under the agreement, dated July 17, 2026, the companies will begin with an investigator-initiated trial in China evaluating TPST-4003 in approximately 10 patients with myasthenia gravis or multiple sclerosis.¹ First patient enrollment and dosing is expected in the fourth quarter of 2026.¹ CEO Matt Angel said the company expects initial safety and PD data from the first patients as early as the first half of 2027.¹

The trial will track safety, cellular kinetics and pharmacodynamic activity, including treatment-emergent adverse events, generation and expansion of peripheral blood CD4+ and CD8+ CAR-T cells and CD56+ CAR-NK cells, CAR transgene copy number, and depth and kinetics of CD19+ B-cell depletion and reconstitution.¹ Exploratory assessments may include detection of CAR-positive immune cells in cerebrospinal fluid and evaluation of B-cell depletion in lymphoid tissue.¹

Financially, the development fee payable by Tempest to Senlang for each product will range from $1.5 million to $2.0 million, with amounts above $2.0 million requiring Tempest's advance written approval.¹ Fees are payable in installments tied to agreed milestones.¹

Senlang was also granted an exclusive option, exercisable within 90 days after delivery of an agreed data package, to negotiate a definitive license agreement for the relevant product in China.¹ The collaboration agreement has an initial term of three years, extendable in writing.¹