SEATTLE, May 12, 2026
Sana Biotechnology announced new preclinical findings at the 2026 American Society of Gene & Cell Therapy (ASGCT) Annual Meeting demonstrating that its investigational in vivo CAR T cell therapy surrogate SG293 achieved highly selective cellular delivery, potent CAR T cell generation, and deep B cell depletion in non-human primates without requiring lymphodepleting chemotherapy. The data highlight significant progress for Sana’s proprietary fusogen-based in vivo delivery platform, which is designed to generate CAR T cells directly inside the patient’s body through targeted genetic delivery to immune cells. The company believes SG293 could represent a major advancement in next-generation cell therapy by potentially eliminating the complex manufacturing and chemotherapy requirements associated with traditional autologous CAR T treatments. Sana plans to advance SG293 into clinical studies later this year for the treatment of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) while also preparing development of additional in vivo CAR T therapies targeting autoimmune diseases and multiple myeloma.
SG293 Demonstrates Potent In Vivo CAR T Cell Generation
According to Sana Biotechnology, SG293 is a CD8-targeted fusosome engineered to deliver the genetic material required to generate CD19-directed CAR T cells directly inside the body. In preclinical non-human primate studies, a single intravenous administration of the SG293 surrogate produced robust and dose-dependent CAR T cell expansion accompanied by complete peripheral B cell depletion. Researchers reported that B cells became undetectable or minimally detectable within lymph nodes by three weeks after treatment. As B cell populations recovered following depletion, the majority displayed a naïve phenotype consistent with a biological “reset” of the B cell compartment, an outcome considered potentially important for both hematologic malignancies and B cell-mediated autoimmune diseases.
The company emphasized that SG293 demonstrated strong specificity for target immune cells while minimizing delivery to non-target tissues commonly associated with safety concerns in gene therapy. Post-necropsy tissue analyses showed no evidence of off-target delivery to hepatocytes, cardiac tissue, or gonadal tissue in non-human primates. Sana stated that this level of cell-specific precision differentiates its fusogen platform from several alternative in vivo delivery technologies currently under development across the biotechnology sector. Researchers also observed that post-infusion adverse effects remained mild and manageable, with toxicities generally consistent with those historically observed in autologous CAR T therapy studies.
One of the most important aspects of the SG293 program is its ability to function without lymphodepleting chemotherapy, a major limitation associated with conventional CAR T treatment approaches. Traditional CAR T therapies often require intensive preconditioning regimens that can increase toxicity risk and limit accessibility for medically fragile patients. Sana believes its in vivo CAR T strategy may simplify administration, reduce manufacturing complexity, improve scalability, and potentially expand access to cell therapy across broader patient populations. The company also reported that a novel transgene design incorporated into SG293 reduced incorporation of CAR protein onto the vector during manufacturing, potentially lowering anti-CAR immunogenicity and improving long-term durability of the engineered CAR T cells.
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Sana Expands Pipeline Beyond Blood Cancer Applications
Sana Biotechnology stated that the SG293 findings support broader development of its in vivo CAR T platform across oncology and autoimmune diseases. Initially, the company plans to evaluate SG293 in patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, with first-in-human clinical data expected as early as later this year. If successful, Sana intends to expand clinical development into B cell-mediated autoimmune disorders, an increasingly competitive therapeutic area attracting significant pharmaceutical investment due to growing evidence supporting immune-cell resetting strategies for diseases such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and multiple sclerosis.
The company is also advancing SG227, another fusogen-based in vivo CAR T therapy targeting BCMA (B-cell maturation antigen) for treatment of multiple myeloma. SG227 uses the same CD8-targeted fusosome platform to generate BCMA-directed CAR T cells directly inside the body while minimizing exposure to non-target tissues. Sana expects to initiate clinical development of SG227 as early as mid-2027. Industry analysts believe in vivo CAR T technologies may eventually transform the economics and scalability of cellular immunotherapy if they can replicate the potency of traditional ex vivo CAR T manufacturing while simplifying clinical administration.
Fusogen Platform Strengthens Sana’s Cell Therapy Strategy
The ASGCT 2026 data reflect Sana Biotechnology’s broader strategy to position itself as a leader in engineered cell therapies and precision in vivo delivery technologies. Sana’s proprietary fusogen platform is based on engineered membrane fusion proteins capable of delivering therapeutic payloads directly to specific cell types inside the body. The modular system is designed to support delivery of multiple therapeutic modalities including integrating DNA, RNA payloads, and gene-editing machinery across diverse disease areas.
The company believes the platform’s ability to selectively target distinct cellular receptors may create opportunities for highly precise in vivo therapies with improved safety profiles compared with broader systemic delivery approaches. Sana executives stated that the latest findings validate the company’s long-term vision of developing scalable “off-the-shelf” engineered cell therapies capable of treating cancer, autoimmune diseases, and genetic disorders through simplified administration and targeted in vivo engineering.
As competition intensifies across the rapidly growing cell therapy market, biotechnology companies are increasingly pursuing next-generation strategies designed to reduce cost, improve manufacturing efficiency, and expand patient accessibility. Sana Biotechnology aims to differentiate itself through highly specific fusogen-mediated delivery technologies capable of generating therapeutic engineered cells directly within patients while avoiding many of the operational limitations associated with conventional autologous CAR T manufacturing systems.
Source: Sana Biotechnology press release
