Tempest Partners with Senlang for First-In-Human Trial of CD7-Targeted CAR-T Therapy — Tempest Therapeutics, Inc.

Event summary

Tempest Therapeutics collaborates with Senlang Biotechnology to develop TPST-4003, a CD7-targeted next-generation in vivo CAR-T therapy.
First-in-human investigator-initiated trial (IIT) of TPST-4003 expected to begin in Q4 2026, targeting neurological autoimmune diseases like myasthenia gravis and multiple sclerosis.
Senlang will conduct the trial in China with an exclusive option to license TPST-4003 for the Chinese market.
TPST-4003 combines CD7-targeted mRNA/LNP delivery with a dual-target CD19/BCMA CAR construct designed for broad B-cell lineage depletion and immune reset.

The big picture

This collaboration marks a strategic pivot for Tempest, leveraging Senlang's clinical-stage experience in CD7-targeted CAR-T therapies to accelerate the development of TPST-4003. The partnership aligns with broader industry trends toward next-generation in vivo CAR-T therapies that aim to address both autoimmune and oncology indications through immune reset mechanisms.

What we're watching

Trial Execution: The pace at which Tempest and Senlang can enroll and dose patients in the IIT will determine the timeline for initial safety and pharmacodynamic data.
Regulatory Dynamics: Whether TPST-4003's novel CD7-targeted mRNA/LNP delivery approach gains regulatory acceptance could influence its broader clinical applications.
Market Expansion: How Tempest leverages Senlang’s expertise to potentially secure a definitive license agreement for TPST-4003 in China will impact its long-term market strategy.