CAMBRIDGE, Mass., July 31, 2026
CREATE Medicines has announced a strategic research collaboration and exclusive worldwide licensing agreement with Monash University and the Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences (MIPS) to strengthen its next-generation in vivo CAR-T platform. The partnership will expand CREATE’s targeted delivery capabilities by integrating Monash’s advanced lipid nanoparticle (LNP) chemistries, proprietary binders, and next-generation targeting technologies, addressing one of the most significant challenges in cell and gene therapy—precise delivery of therapeutic payloads to specific immune cell populations. Through the agreement, CREATE receives an exclusive worldwide license to intellectual property generated through the collaboration, along with commercialization rights for CAR therapies directed at designated targets. The partnership is expected to accelerate the development of programmable in vivo immunotherapies across multiple disease areas while advancing more precise, scalable, and off-the-shelf treatment options for patients.
Strategic Collaboration Expands In Vivo CAR-T Delivery Capabilities
The collaboration combines CREATE Medicines’ clinically validated mRNA-LNP platform with Monash University’s world-leading expertise in lipid nanoparticle engineering to create a more sophisticated delivery system for in vivo CAR-T therapies. Targeted delivery remains one of the greatest technical barriers in developing effective cell therapies because therapeutic payloads must reach the correct immune cells with high precision while minimizing off-target effects. Under the research agreement, both organizations will jointly develop cell-type-specific targeted LNP technologies capable of delivering Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) payloads directly inside the body. The expanded targeting toolkit will enable CREATE to rapidly evaluate multiple binder formats, targeting strategies, and immune cell types, significantly broadening the therapeutic potential of its platform across cancer, autoimmune disorders, and future immunology programs. The exclusive licensing rights further strengthen CREATE’s long-term intellectual property position while supporting future commercial development.
Advanced LNP Technology Strengthens Precision Medicine Innovation
The partnership leverages Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences’ internationally recognized leadership in nanomedicine, intracellular delivery biology, and targeted lipid nanoparticle engineering. Research will be led by Professor Angus Johnston, supported by Professor Colin Pouton and Dr. Moore Chen, whose pioneering work in mRNA delivery technologies has significantly advanced targeted nanoparticle research. By integrating novel LNP chemistries with CREATE’s programmable immune platform, researchers aim to develop increasingly precise methods of delivering genetic payloads to selected immune cells while maintaining the flexibility required for future therapeutic applications. The expanded delivery toolkit will provide CREATE with greater control over immune programming, enabling development of next-generation in vivo CAR therapies that can be repeatedly administered through an off-the-shelf treatment model, eliminating many manufacturing challenges associated with conventional ex vivo CAR-T therapies.
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Exclusive License Supports Future Commercial Development
Beyond advancing scientific research, the agreement establishes a strong commercial framework for future innovation. CREATE Medicines receives an exclusive worldwide license to all intellectual property generated during the collaboration, together with rights to develop and commercialize CAR therapies targeting designated disease indications. In return, Monash University will receive research funding along with downstream milestone and royalty payments tied to future product development and commercialization. The collaboration further demonstrates the growing importance of partnerships between biotechnology companies and leading academic institutions in accelerating innovation within cell therapy, gene therapy, and precision medicine. As CREATE continues expanding its pipeline beyond oncology into autoimmune diseases, the enhanced mRNA-LNP targeting platform is expected to strengthen multiple clinical programs while supporting the development of highly targeted, scalable immunotherapies capable of reaching broader patient populations worldwide.
Source: CREATE Medicines press release
